![]() Or your doctor may remove all of the thyroid. Depending on your cancer, your doctor may remove just a portion of the thyroid - a procedure known as thyroidectomy. In cases where further treatment is necessary, surgery is common. In many people, this small cancer - under 1 centimeter - might never grow and may never require surgery. Instead, your doctor may recommend observation with blood tests, an ultrasound, and a physical exam once or twice per year. Very small cancers - under 1 centimeter - have a low risk of growing or spreading and, thus, might not need treatment right away. These tests may include blood tests to check tumor markers and imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRI, or nuclear imaging tests, such as a radioiodine whole-body scan.įortunately, most thyroid cancers can be beaten with treatments. If diagnosed with thyroid cancer, several other tests may be done to help your doctor determine whether your cancer has spread beyond the thyroid and outside of the neck. In some cases, genetic testing may be done to help determine any associated hereditary causes. Armed with this information, doctors may decide to do a biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue from your thyroid. This usually is followed by blood tests and ultrasound imaging. Your doctor will feel for physical changes in your neck and the thyroid. Most often, diagnosing thyroid cancer starts with the physical exam. If you're experiencing any of these issues and are concerned, make an appointment with your doctor. Or you may develop swollen lymph nodes in your neck. Some may develop pain in their neck or throat. You may notice changes to your voice, including hoarseness of your voice, or difficulty swallowing. As it grows, you may notice a lump that can be felt through the skin in your neck. Typically, thyroid cancer doesn't trigger any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Although uncommon, up to 30 percent of patients with medullary thyroid cancer are associated with genetic syndromes that can increase your risk for other tumors as well. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a very rare type of cancer that typically occurs in adults 60 and older. Follicular thyroid cancer usually affects people older than age 50. And although it can occur at any age, it generally affects people ages 30 to 50. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common form of thyroid cancer. Different types of thyroid cancer are more likely to affect different age groups. Certain hereditary genetic syndromes may also play a role. And exposure to high levels of radiation, for instance, radiation therapy to the head or neck for other cancers, can increase your risk. Women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer. There are other things that can increase your chances of developing thyroid cancer. However, most cancers are very treatable and the prognosis for most patients with thyroid cancer is excellent. Because we're able to detect small thyroid cancers with new technology, the rate of thyroid cancer incidence has gone up. There are several different kinds of thyroid cancer. Sometimes these cells invade nearby tissue, and can spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. Where healthy cells typically die, these abnormal cells grow and grow and eventually form a tumor. When thyroid cells mutate, changes to their DNA cause them to grow and multiply. ![]() ![]() It's an important gland responsible for producing hormones that control a lot of vital functions in your body, such as your heart and your heart rate, your blood pressure, your body temperature, and your weight. What is the thyroid? This is a butterfly shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck. Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. In this video, we'll cover the basics of thyroid cancer: What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms. Mabel Ryder, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |