Thyroid Cancer

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of thyroid cancer are:

• A lump or swelling in the neck: This is the most common symptom of thyroid cancer. The lump may be visible or it may be felt as a swelling when you swallow or touch your neck.
• Difficulty swallowing: You may feel like food or liquids are stuck in your throat or that you are having trouble swallowing.
• Hoarseness: You may notice changes in your voice, such as a hoarse or gravelly sound.
• Pain in the neck or throat: You may feel pain or discomfort in your neck or throat, especially when you swallow.

Causes

The exact cause of thyroid cancer is not fully understood, but there are several risk factors that may increase your chances of developing the disease. These include:

• Exposure to radiation: People who have been exposed to high levels of radiation, such as those who have had radiation therapy to the neck or head, have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Family history: If you have a family member (such as a parent or sibling) with thyroid cancer, you may be at increased risk of developing the disease.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.
• Age: The risk of developing thyroid cancer increases with age.
• Goiter: A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. People with goiters have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Certain inherited genetic syndromes: People with certain inherited genetic syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), are at increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Risk factors

• Exposure to radiation: People who have been exposed to high levels of radiation, such as those who have had radiation therapy to the neck or head, have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Family history: If you have a family member (such as a parent or sibling) with thyroid cancer, you may be at increased risk of developing the disease.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.
• Age: The risk of developing thyroid cancer increases with age.
• Goiter: A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. People with goiters have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Certain inherited genetic syndromes: People with certain inherited genetic syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), are at increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Complications

• Spread of cancer: Thyroid cancer can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat.
• Difficulty swallowing: If the cancer grows large enough, it may cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
• Changes in voice: Thyroid cancer can cause changes in your voice, such as hoarseness.
• Damage to nearby structures: Surgery to remove the thyroid gland may damage nearby structures, such as the parathyroid glands or the nerves that control the vocal cords.
• Thyroid hormone deficiency: If the thyroid gland is removed or damaged, you may develop a deficiency of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold.
• Scarring: Surgery to remove the thyroid gland may result in scarring of the neck.
• Recurrence of cancer: There is a risk that the cancer may come back (recur) after treatment.

How to diagnose it?

• Blood tests: Blood tests can help your doctor check for abnormal levels of thyroid hormones or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). These tests can also help your doctor check for other conditions that may cause symptoms similar to those of thyroid cancer.
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT scan, can help your doctor see the size and shape of your thyroid gland and identify any abnormalities.
• Fine needle aspiration biopsy: During this procedure, your doctor will use a thin needle to remove a sample of cells from the thyroid gland. The cells will be examined under a microscope to check for cancer.
• Thyroid scintigraphy: This test involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material into a vein and then using a special camera to take pictures of the thyroid gland. This can help your doctor identify any abnormalities in the gland.
• Thyroid surgery: If the results of other tests suggest that you may have thyroid cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. This will allow the cells to be examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.

How to prevent it?

• Protect yourself from radiation: Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation, such as X-rays or CT scans, and limit your exposure to medical and dental X-rays to the minimum necessary.
• Eat a healthy diet: A diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in red and processed meats may help reduce your risk of thyroid cancer.
• Avoid tobacco: Smoking and other forms of tobacco use can increase your risk of thyroid cancer.
• Get regular medical check-ups: Regular medical check-ups can help your doctor identify any problems early on, when they are most easily treated.
• Learn your family history: If you have a family history of thyroid cancer or other inherited genetic syndromes, you may be at increased risk of developing the disease. Talk to your doctor about your risk and what you can do to reduce it.

When do you need to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A lump or swelling in the neck
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Pain in the neck or throat

FAQs