Thyroid Cancer What Is It

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

What causes thyroid cancer? This type of cancer can occur due to different reasons. In particular, exposure to radiation in the head and neck region can cause this problem. It is observed that the likelihood of thyroid cancer is much higher after the twenties in people who were exposed to radiation in childhood. In addition, radiation is applied to this region in patients who develop cancer in the head and neck parts. However, as a result of this, it is seen that cancer can occur in the thyroid area.

At the same time, this type of cancer consists of tumors originating from thyroid nodules. Having a family history of thyroid cancer is also among the factors that cause its formation. This type of cancer, which can occur due to different reasons, must definitely be taken into consideration. A detailed and meticulous examination must be performed for patients, and accordingly, it is recommended that the correct treatment method be determined. Thus, it is known that the patient’s probability of recovery increases. For its diagnosis, many tests are applied and as a result, clear information is obtained.

Risk Factors In Thyroid Cancer

It is not clear what causes thyroid cancer. However, it is known that some special situations increase the risk of thyroid cancer. These are;

• Female gender
• High-level radiation therapy applied to the head and neck region
• Family history of thyroid cancer
• Hereditary genetic syndromes such as medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia, Cowden syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis.

Types Of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancers are grouped according to the types of cells found in the tumor after the tissue sample is examined under a microscope. The type of thyroid cancer is important in determining the treatment to be applied and the prognosis.

Papillary thyroid cancer: It constitutes 80% of all thyroid cancers. Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common form of thyroid cancer, originates from follicular cells that produce and store thyroid hormones. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but it most often affects people between the ages of 30 and 50. This type of cancer grows slowly. Although papillary thyroid cancer often spreads to lymph nodes in the neck, the disease responds very well to treatment. Papillary thyroid cancer is highly treatable and is rarely fatal.

Follicular thyroid cancer: It constitutes 15% of thyroid cancers. Follicular thyroid cancer also originates from follicular cells of the thyroid. It is more common in patients over the age of 50. Hürthle cell cancer is a rare and potentially more aggressive type of follicular thyroid cancer. This cancer has a higher likelihood of spreading to bones and organs. Treatment may be more difficult in cases with spread.

Medullary thyroid cancer: It constitutes 2% of thyroid cancers. Medullary thyroid cancer originates from C cells that produce the hormone calcitonin. For this reason, elevated calcitonin levels in the blood can help diagnose medullary thyroid cancer early. Some genetic syndromes increase the risk of medullary thyroid cancer, but this genetic connection is rare.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: It constitutes 2% of thyroid cancers. It is a rare type of thyroid cancer that begins in follicular cells. It grows rapidly and is very difficult to treat. Anaplastic thyroid cancer typically occurs in adults aged 60 and older.

Symptoms Of Thyroid Cancer

What Are The Symptoms Of Thyroid Cancer? Thyroid cancer is generally a disease that does not cause symptoms. In some cases, it can occur in patients who are followed due to goiter . It can also be noticed while the patient is being examined for another condition, and the presence of this cancer can be detected. Although rare, it can cause a mass in the neck and hoarseness, and it can be understood thanks to these symptoms. In addition, it is known that problems such as difficulty swallowing can also be among the symptoms.

In very rare cases, it can present itself with bone fractures and toxic goiter. In a certain portion of patients who have this cancer, symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, and facial flushing are observed. The method that gives a definitive result as to whether an individual has a thyroid nodule is thyroid ultrasonography. Instead of the methods applied in the past, ultrasonography is now applied more frequently. Thanks to highly advanced diagnostic methods, patients can be diagnosed accurately. Thanks to these developments, thyroid cancer can be detected at a very early stage. However, despite these, there may still be cases where it cannot be detected by ultrasound.

Among the symptoms of thyroid cancer, the most common condition is swelling that occurs in the front part of the neck. Since the thyroid gland is located at this point, an enlargement is observed. This condition, which makes it difficult for the individual to swallow, can also cause coughing and a feeling of something getting stuck. This condition, which is sometimes noticed incidentally, must definitely be checked. Because with early diagnosis, the recovery rate of patients can increase. Thus, the speed at which patients regain their health can also increase.

It is said that it is a type of disease that does not show any symptoms in the early stages. However, in later periods, the following symptoms may occur:

• Swelling and lump in the neck
• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bone loss
• Pain from the neck to the ears
• Decrease in blood and cholesterol values
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Irritability
• Decreased libido

Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis

Medical History and Physical Examination: Patient complaints are carefully reviewed. Especially risk factors such as past exposure to radiation and a family history of thyroid cancer are questioned. In the physical examination, a neck examination is performed to feel physical changes in the thyroid. Thyroid nodules and possible lymph nodes in the neck are examined. 

Blood tests: Blood tests help determine whether the thyroid gland is working normally.

Ultrasonographic imaging: Ultrasound reveals the anatomy of the thyroid, the thyroid nodule, and whether this nodule is suspicious for cancer.  

Thyroid biopsy: It is a procedure performed with the help of a needle under ultrasound from thyroid nodules that are seen as suspicious. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in office conditions. The sample taken is evaluated by a pathologist to try to make a diagnosis.

Other imaging tests: In some cases,  CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging tests may also be requested to help determine whether the cancer has spread outside the thyroid. 

Genetic test: In people with medullary thyroid cancer, there may be genetic changes that may be associated with other endocrine cancers. A genetic test may be requested to investigate genes that increase your cancer risk.

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

What Causes Thyroid Cancer? There are 3 main diseases that develop related to the thyroid gland. These are known as goiter, thyroid inflammation, and thyroid cancer. The most common among thyroid gland diseases is thyroid nodules. In Turkey, especially in provinces where diets are poor in iodine, goiter frequency is encountered more frequently. Gender difference is important in the disease. When looking at gender distribution, it is seen 5 times more in women than in men.

Related content: Thyroid (Goiter) Gland

Treatment Of Thyroid Cancer

Treatment of thyroid cancer is seen to be most effective with surgical operations. During this surgery, which is the primary treatment method, all or the affected part of the thyroid gland is removed. At the same time, if any spread is observed in the lymph nodes in the neck, these points are also removed surgically. In addition, during this treatment, some types of thyroid cancer may require an additional treatment. The decision that additional treatment is needed is determined according to the type of cancer and the pathology result.

If the entire thyroid gland has been removed, thyroid hormone is given orally for life after the surgery. The reason for this is to prevent the recurrence of the disease. In addition to surgical treatment, atomic therapy (radioactive iodine), radiotherapy, or chemotherapy methods may also be applied. However, it is rarely encountered that these are used.

Thyroid cancer is among the cancers that can be diagnosed in the early period. In some cases, it can progress without causing any symptoms. However, it is recommended that individuals definitely have it checked. The reason for this is that the recovery rate of patients increases thanks to early diagnosis.

Thyroid Cancer Treatment Options

Thyroid cancer treatment options vary depending on the type and stage of your thyroid cancer, the patient’s general health condition, and your preferences.

Surgery: It is the most commonly applied treatment form for thyroid cancer. Which surgery can be recommended depends on the type of thyroid cancer, the size of the cancer, whether the cancer has spread outside the thyroid, and the results of the ultrasound examination of the entire thyroid gland. All or half of the thyroid gland can be removed. In addition, if there are lymph nodes suspicious for cancer on the side of the neck, this region may also need to be cleared.

Thyroid surgery carries a risk of bleeding and infection. During surgery, damage may occur to your parathyroid glands, which can cause low calcium levels in your body. There is also a risk that the nerves connected to your vocal cords may not function normally after surgery, which can cause vocal cord paralysis, hoarseness, voice changes, or difficulty breathing.

Radioactive iodine treatment: It is generally used after thyroidectomy to destroy remaining healthy thyroid tissue and microscopic thyroid cancer areas that were not removed during surgery. Radioactive iodine treatment can also be used to treat thyroid cancer that recurs after treatment or spreads to other parts of the body. Radioactive iodine is primarily taken up by thyroid cells and thyroid cancer cells, so the risk of damaging other cells in your body is low.

Thyroid hormone therapy: After the thyroid gland is removed, it may be necessary to take thyroid hormone medication for life. Treatment has two benefits. The first is to replace the missing thyroid hormone and thus provide the hormone replacement necessary for metabolism, and the second is to suppress the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted from the pituitary gland. High TSH levels can cause growth in remaining cancer cells.

External Radiation Therapy: It may be recommended in cases where surgery cannot be performed and your cancer continues to grow after radioactive iodine therapy. Radiation therapy may also be recommended after surgery if your risk of recurrence increases.

Chemotherapy: These are chemical drugs given intravenously or orally to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. It is needed in very few patients in thyroid cancer. In some special cases, it can be combined with radiation therapy.

Thyroid Cancer Surgery

Thyroid cancer surgery is among the most frequently preferred methods for the treatment of cancer. It can also be mentioned as the main method. During the surgery, all or a certain part of the thyroid gland is removed. If it has also spread to the lymph nodes, this region is also removed during the surgery. First, an incision of about 4-8 cm is made in the patient’s neck. The method applied directly may vary depending on the condition of the cancer. In addition, the surgery can be performed both with the open surgery method and in a closed manner. Before the surgery, the patient is informed in detail and the surgery is performed according to the situation.

In addition, it is known that thyroid cancer surgery lasts an average of about 2-3 hours. However, this duration may vary from patient to patient  and according to the method applied. The stage of the cancer, its structure, size, and location are among the factors affecting the duration. At the same time, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

After Thyroid Cancer Surgery

After thyroid cancer surgery treatment of some patients is continued with radioactive iodine. Depending on the condition and spread of the tumor in the patient, treatment can be continued in this way after surgery. The purpose of this is to destroy all remaining cancerous cells. In addition, on the day of surgery, problems such as bleeding, hoarseness, and low calcium may occur in the patient. Pain may also be observed due to the incision opened in the throat.

After the surgery, some medications are given to the patient in order to ensure hormone production. Medications must be used under doctor supervision. The reason for giving these medications is due to the removal of part or all of the thyroid glands. Again, in the postoperative period, it is necessary to go for regular examinations. The reason for this can be said to be to check whether the disease has recurred. In these repeated examinations, necessary tests are performed and the patient is examined in detail.

Thyroid Cancer What Is It FAQ

1. What happens if you have thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid gland grow uncontrollably. It usually becomes noticeable with symptoms such as a swelling noticed in the neck, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing. When the disease is detected at an early stage, the treatment process generally progresses more effectively and smoothly.

2. Is there a risk of death from thyroid cancer?
Most types of thyroid cancer progress slowly and can be successfully treated. Therefore, the risk of death is quite low. However, in aggressive types and in advanced stages, this risk may increase.

3. How many years can a person live with thyroid cancer?
Individuals diagnosed with this type of cancer can generally live a healthy life for many years. Patients with papillary and follicular types can live for 10–20 years or longer. How long a person will live may vary depending on how far the cancer has progressed in the body and the effectiveness of the treatment applied.

4. How does thyroid cancer get better?
The first step in treatment is usually surgery. Then, the process is supported with radioactive iodine treatment and thyroid hormone medications. The success rate is high in early stages. Regular follow-up is also very important in the recovery process.

5. Where does thyroid cancer spread first?
The most common sites of spread are the lymph nodes in the neck. In advanced cases, spread to distant organs such as the lungs and bones may also be seen through the bloodstream.

6. Is there chemotherapy for thyroid cancer?
It is generally not needed. However, in some advanced-stage or aggressively progressing types of thyroid cancer, chemotherapy may be preferred together with other methods.

7. Where does thyroid cancer cause pain?
It usually does not cause distinct pain. However, in some patients, there may be discomfort in the neck region or mild pains radiating to the jaw or ear. If there is pain, it may be a sign of progression.

8. Does thyroid cancer progress quickly?
This varies depending on the type of cancer. While papillary and follicular thyroid cancer usually progress slowly, medullary and especially anaplastic types can progress more aggressively.

9. Is thyroid cancer surgery risky?
When performed by an experienced surgeon, the risk rate is low. In rare cases, complications such as hoarseness or low calcium levels may occur, but they are usually temporary.

10. What symptoms are seen in stage 4 thyroid cancer?
In advanced stages, symptoms are more common: complaints such as chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing, bone pain, and severe weight loss may be seen. Symptoms vary depending on the organs to which it has spread.

11. What triggers thyroid cancer?
A family history of thyroid cancer, high radiation exposure, and some genetic syndromes can increase the risk of developing this disease. Imbalances in iodine levels in the body can also affect the structure of thyroid cells and lay the groundwork for the disease.

12. When is thyroid cancer dangerous?
It is generally a disease that can be brought under control. However, if the diagnosis is made late, if there are rapidly spreading types, or if metastasis has occurred in the body, it can lead to serious health problems.

13. How do we know if thyroid cancer has spread?
When new symptoms (for example, a persistent cough, bone pain) appear and tumors are observed in different organs with imaging tests, spread is suspected. It is confirmed by biopsy.

14. Does thyroid cancer go away with medication?
It does not go away with medication alone. However, thyroid hormone medications used after surgery and, in some advanced cases, targeted therapy drugs can help control the disease.