The thyroid, a two-part gland below the larynx, regulates the body's energy level. Thyroid cancer is rare, with slight increases in recent years, which may be due to new techniques that enable doctors to find small cancers that previously couldn't be detected, according to the Mayo Clinic. The survival rate is about 100 percent for early-stage thyroid cancer, except for anaplastic thyroid cancer, which is advanced in all patients. Several treatment strategies are used to optimize cure, including lifetime follow-up monitoring after surgery.
Prevalence
Thyroid cancer is rare, with 37,000 new cases each year, according to EndocrineWeb.com. In fact, less than 1 percent of lumps on the thyroid are malignant. The incident in women is three times higher than in men. Thyroid cancer occurs most frequently in people older than 30.
Types
There are four types of thyroid cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Two slowly progressing types, papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, together comprise 95 percent of cases. Both have high cure rates. Medullary cancer, which also grows slowly, begins in thyroid cells that make calcitonin. Anaplastic thyroid cancer, which comprises about 2 percent of cases, spreads rapidly and is difficult to treat.
Symptoms
Early thyroid cancer does not cause symptoms, says the Mayo Clinic. When the cancerous tumor grows, a person may feel a lump on the neck that seems to be getting bigger quickly, according to the American Cancer Society. Pain extending from the front of the neck to the ears is another symptom. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and hoarseness that doesn't go away is another sign. Trouble swallowing and a cough that is persistent may also signify thyroid cancer.
Risk Factors
Several factors are known to increase the risk for thyroid cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. They include exposure to ionizing radiation from treatment or nuclear fallout. A family history of thyroid cancer or swollen thyroid also increases the risk. Certain inherited diseases, including familial adenomatous polyposis and multiple endocrine neoplasia, increase the risk for a cancerous tumor on the thyroid.
Treatment
People with a cancerous tumor of the thyroid typically end up having the entire thyroid gland surgically removed, possibly with nearby lymph nodes excised as well. After at least four weeks, depending on the type of cancer, the patient may receive radioactive iodine as a pill. This kills any remaining microscopic cancer cells in the area, according to EndocrineWeb.com. Patients must take replacement thyroid hormone for their entire life and should have regular checkups every six to 12 months.
