Thyroid Cancer Symptoms And Treatment
Cancer is the abnormal and accelerated growth of cells in an organ. A tumor can also form in the thyroid gland. This gland is responsible for secreting hormones that are involved in important body processes, including metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. Read below what are the symptoms of thyroid cancer and how this cancer is treated.
According to statistics from the Global Cancer Observatory, this type of cancer covered 3.2% of new cancers diagnosed in 2018. In addition, researchers estimate that it caused more than 41,000 deaths worldwide in the same year.
The clearest symptom of thyroid cancer is nodules on the neck above the gland. This cancer most often occurs in patients over 60 years of age and under 30 years of age. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2020, 52,890 cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone.
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? What are the treatment options for it? The answers to these questions are good for everyone to know. As with any disease, early diagnosis and treatment improves the prognosis of thyroid cancer as well. In this article, we will answer your questions about this disease.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer usually manifests as a painless, palpable nodule in front of the neck. This nodule, which corresponds to the nodule of the thyroid gland, should be distinguished from the benign nodule of the thyroid gland. Benign nodules are found in about 7 percent of the population.
Pain is usually associated with other, benign thyroid diseases, such as acute viral thyroiditis. Some of the symptoms associated with thyroid cancer, on the other hand, are:
- Continuous hoarseness of sound
- Difficulty swallowing food
- Breathing difficulties
- Constant cough
These symptoms are due to the nodule pressing on the airways and esophagus in the neck. However, symptoms may not be noticed at an early stage. It is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice anything abnormal.
Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer
The final stage of diagnosis is to distinguish malignant nodules from benign ones and to find out which patients have cancer and who do not. The most important diagnostic methods are medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and FNAB, or thin needle biopsy.
After interviewing the patient, the doctor palpates the neck area and thyroid gland. Your doctor may send you for blood tests and require ultrasound images if you feel something abnormal to better map out the situation.
After confirming the nature of the nodule, your doctor may suggest a thin needle biopsy. This study is the definitive diagnostic method for thyroid cancer. A cell sample is taken from the suspected area in the study and analyzed in the laboratory.
The treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery to remove the nodule. Before the operation, the doctor performs a procedure known as laryngoscopy, or laryngeal endoscopy. With this procedure, the doctor determines if the patient’s vocal cords are moving normally. He also examines the throat with a special mirror or viewfinder with a light and lens at the end.
Laryngeal endoscopy is performed because surgery involves the risk of damage to the vocal cords. After surgery and evaluation, your doctor may still suggest other complementary treatments, such as radiation therapy.
What should be remembered?
Thyroid cancer is a cancer that affects the thyroid gland. The survival rate for this type of cancer is high, and this cancer accounts for 3.2% of all cancers worldwide. It is usually diagnosed by determining the quality of the painless nodule in the front of the neck and is treated by removing the nodule by surgery.
