A detailed discussion on Thyroid Cancer

The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped and located at the base of the neck. Thyroid cancer is a condition that develops when the cancer cells are formed in the tissues of the particular gland. Usually, this condition cannot be identified by symptoms in the initial stage, but as it grows, neck swelling and pain are some of the significant cues. 

Some of the major types of thyroid cancer are-

• Papillary thyroid cancer- It is considered to be the most common type of thyroid cancer, which emerges from the follicular cells that are responsible for storing as well as producing thyroid hormones. It is mostly seen to occur in people between ages 30 to 50 years. 

• Follicular thyroid cancer- It is differentiated from papillary thyroid cancer, although this type of cancer takes place in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Mostly, people above 50 years get diagnosed with this. It tends to grow quite slowly and usually not diagnosed in the early stages. 

• Anaplastic thyroid cancer- This is an aggressive and rare form of thyroid cancer that starts from the follicular cells and shows rapid growth. It is also resistant to treatment and generally has a poor prognosis. Usually, people aged 60 years or above are likely to develop this condition. 

• Medullary thyroid cancer- The C cells of the thyroid gland produce the calcitonin hormone. This type of thyroid cancer begins from the C cells. When the calcitonin hormone level increases in the blood, it can lead to this condition. There are certain genetic factors, too that may elevate the risk of getting diagnosed with this. 

There are other uncommon types of thyroid cancers, like thyroid lymphoma, which originates in the immune cells of the gland and the thyroid sarcoma generated from the connective tissue cells of the thyroid gland. 

What are the risk factors of thyroid cancer?

1. Gender- Statistically, thyroid cancer is more likely to occur in women than men. 

2. Exposure to radiation- One is expected to have increased chances of getting thyroid cancer if they have received radiation therapy to the head and neck before. 

3. Genetic syndromes- Filial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasias, and filial adenomatous polyposis are some of the genetic syndromes that may contribute to the risk factors. 

Relapse

Thyroid cancer has a fair chance of relapsing even after treatment is over. The possible reason is the spread of microscopic cancer cells to various parts of the body before it has been removed. The common areas of reoccurrence are-

• Lymph nodes of the neck

• Thyroid tissues left behind at the time of surgery

• Lungs and bones

Common symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

• Growing lump or swelling in the neck

• Pain originating from the front portion of the neck and going up to the ears

• Hoarseness or a certain change in the voice

• Problems during swallowing

• Breathing troubles

• Constant coughing 

It is important for the patient to contact their healthcare professional immediately if any of these symptoms have been noticed for a considerable period. 

Treatment for Thyroid Cancer

Trametinib is used to attack the tumors and destroy the cancer cells effectively. It is typically prescribed in combination with Dabrafenib for treating the rare type anaplastic thyroid cancer, which is aggressive in nature. However, this drug combination is only effective for patients who possess a specific mutation in a gene known as BRAF that has the potential for stimulating cancer cells. Mekinist Trametinib is usually supposed to be continued for a year until the body starts responding to treatment or develops unbearable toxicity. 

For treating differentiated thyroid cancer, which is progressing rapidly, Lenvatinib is prescribed. It is given alone and can modify the thyroid hormone levels in the body. That is why the doctor must conduct routine medical checkups every month. 

While talking about medication therapy for treating thyroid cancer, Sorafenib 200 mg deserves special mention. It is a Tyrosine Kinases inhibitor drug that can block the impact of certain proteins, which ultimately cause the cells to be cancerous. Patients suffering from advanced progressing differentiated thyroid carcinoma are prescribed with this drug. It is usually preferred when external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy are no longer effective in destroying the cancer cells. 

All the drugs are to be consumed according to the specific dosage, as suggested by the doctor. It is also important to contact your physician if life-threatening side effects are experienced from the drugs. 

FAQs

What is the thyroid gland?

In humans, thyroid gland is found in the neck, which produces thyroid hormones. These hormones specifically help our body to use energy, stay warm and keep the heart, brain, muscles, and other organs functioning normally.

What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?

This cancer can be detected as a lump in the neck, but often found accidentally, during the imaging tests done for any other reasons.

Rarely, thyroid cancer may be responsible for causing pain, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.

What causes thyroid cancer?

In most cases, the reason behind formation of thyroid cancer is unknown. It is quite common in individuals who've a history of the radiation exposure to the thyroid gland or the family history of thyroid cancer, but this is not the case for most individuals diagnosed with the cancer of thyroid. Thyroid cancer is quite common as individuals get older.

How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

Thyroid cancer diagnosis is typically performed through an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of a thyroid nodule or is performed after the nodule is eliminated during surgery.

Apart from this, thyroid nodules are quite common, less than 1 out of 10 contain thyroid cancer. There are no blood tests in order to diagnose the cancer of thyroid.

What are the types of thyroid cancer?

• Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer (70-80% of thyroid cancers).

• Follicular thyroid cancer (10-15% of thyroid cancers) tends to develop in somewhat older patients than does papillary cancer.

• Medullary thyroid cancer (5-10% of thyroid cancers) is quite likely to run in the families and can be diagnosed through genetic testing.

• Anaplastic thyroid cancer (less than 2 percent of thyroid cancers) is the least common but quite aggressive type.

What is the prognosis of thyroid cancer?

Overall, thyroid cancer prognosis is quite good, specifically for patients aged younger than 55 years and for those with the small cancers, maximum of whom can be cured.

Even such patients who're not able to be cured of their thyroid cancer are able to live several years and feel good despite their cancer.

Disclaimer: The above-mentioned content is only for information purpose. We don’t claim the effectiveness of the medication.