Thyroid cancer is a cancer that is found in the butterfly shaped gland found at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is responsible for the creation of different hormones that are responsible for the control of metabolism. On top of that, though, the thyroid is responsible for the regulation of the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
In the past, thyroid cancer wasn’t very common in the United States. About 37,000 individuals each year were diagnosed with it. However, in recent years, more individuals are being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Some doctors suggest that this is because of new technology that can check for very minute sized tumors in the thyroid. This is especially effective because the doctor can pinpoint it at an earlier stage and get rid of it easier.
While doctors don’t know the cause of it, they do understand how the cancer grows. When a cell mutates, it suddenly gains the ability to divide and reproduce much faster. More importantly, the cell no longer dies. Therefore, it continues to replicate itself and grows larger. When the cancer moves from the thyroid to another organ, it means that it has metastasized.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
To begin with, thyroid cancer doesn’t present symptoms. However, as the cancer continues to develop, a handful of symptoms do begin to appear. Therefore, it is important to pay attention for the symptoms so you can react quickly.
- When running your fingers over your neck, a lump can be felt.
- Changes to your voice. A clear voice suddenly begins to become hoarse.
- Increased difficulty swallowing.
- Pain in the neck.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Because of the rarity of thyroid cancer, when these symptoms appear, a doctor might run tests on other diseases and problems. However, if the doctor does diagnose thyroid cancer, the types of treatments are straight forward.
Treatment of Thyroid Cancer
- Surgery: There is the possibility of using surgery to treat. This means that the entire thyroid or part of the thyroid is removed. Once it is removed, the symptoms should disappear almost immediately.
- Radioactive Iodine: Because the thyroid uses iodine to make hormones, the radioactive iodine goes into the thyroid and then the cells are killed by the radioactivity of the iodine.
- External Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy: These are more conventional methods of treatment that most people have heard of.