Thyroid cancer affects your thyroid -- a butterfly-shaped organ in the center of your neck. Your thyroid plays an important role in your health because it regulates your metabolism. Thyroid cancer affects more than 44,670 people in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Weight loss is a primary symptom of thyroid cancer, especially if it has spread to other organs in the body. Understand the symptoms of thyroid cancer and reduce your risk for long term complications.
Risks
Anyone can develop thyroid cancer at any age. In many cases, there is no traceable cause for disease development. If you have been exposed to radiation in the past, you have an increased risk for developing thyroid cancer. If you have had a goiter or growth on your thyroid in the past -- you could develop thyroid cancer in the future, if the goiter is not removed. If you have family members who have had thyroid cancer or have been recently diagnosed, your risk increases. Cancer of the thyroid is based on four main types -- follicular carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma. Follilicular is a rare type of thyroid cancer and has a high recurrence rate. Medullary is a highly hereditary thyroid cancer and requires specific treatment, unlike other thyroid cancers. Anaplastic is the most dangerous form because it does not respond well to treatment and metastasizes rapidly. With anaplastic cancer, you may notice significant weight loss, as the cancer invades other organs. Papillary spreads slowly and is the least dangerous of all thyroid cancers.
Symptoms
There are some very prominent signs of thyroid cancer that you should look out for. It may begin with hoarseness or change in your voice. This can be subtle and get worse over time. You may also have trouble swallowing or you may choke on your food. You could also have a cough that is persistent -- especially in the absence of a sinus or respiratory infection. You may also notice a swelling at the bottom of your neck -- just above your breastbone. The sides of your neck -- just below your lymph nodes may also be sore or tender to the touch. Rapid weight loss can occur as the disease progresses.
Treatment
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the severity of the disease. In some cases, your thyroid will have to be removed. After a physical exam and initial blood testing, your oncologist may recommend MRI imaging in order to see the extent of the cancer. He may order a biopsy of your thyroid or your lymph nodes to determine if cancer cells exist, and where. Rounds of chemotherapy, radioactive iodine, radiation therapy and hormone treatment may be used individually or combined as part of an overall treatment plan. Drug treatments can cause nausea and weight loss and dosage may need to be adjusted depending on your tolerance.
Prognosis
Generally, the prognosis of thyroid cancer is promising and curable -- especially if it is papillary and is detected in its earliest stage. Even stage IV papillary has a 51 percent survival rate after five years -- the best out of all thyroid cancers. Follicular has a 50 percent survival rate after five years and a 100 percent survival rate if found in the earliest stages. Medullary has a 100 percent recovery rate if found early but only a 28 percent rate if found at stage IV. Anaplastic cancer, if detected in the latest stages, only has a 7 percent survival rate and weight loss may occur as the cancer invades internal organs.
