BEWARE of Thyroid Cancer: Do You Know the Risk Factors?

The thyroid is a gland found in the neck and it comprises of two lobes. These two lobes are separated by the isthmus. Thyroid cancer originates like any other type of cancer. Thyroid cancer results from uncontrolled division and multiplication of cells that eventually translated into a mass called tumor. This division and reproduction of the body cells unnecessarily, is as a result of the interruption in the system of checks and balances on the growth of cells. The number of people that get thyroid cancer every other year in U.S is estimated to 20,000.

Everybody is susceptible to cancer of the thyroid but the risk is higher in some group of people namely; age range between 30 and above, people with family history of thyroid cancer. Gender-wise, women are twice or thrice at higher risk of having cancer of the thyroid more than men.

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

There are no causes identified yet for cancer of the thyroid; rather, some risk factors are attributable to thyroid cancer. Such risk factors include exposure to radiation (responsible for follicular or papillary cancer, family history (such as alteration in gene which causes medullary thyroid cancer), gender (women are more prone to thyroid cancer), age, racial factor (African Americans are less prone to thyroid cancer compared to the white). However, serious researches have progressed successfully on how some changes in an individual’s DNA can cause cancer to grow in the thyroid cells

Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

As it is the case with almost every type of cancer, thyroid cancer shows no symptoms at the early stage. But with time and as the cancer develops, some of the symptoms that might manifest include a nodule or lump located near the Adam’s apple in front of the neck, lymph nodes become swollen, hoarseness of speech, severe pain on the throat or neck. However, other ailments such as benign goiter or infection might also present these symptoms. The best thing to do when having these symptoms is to see the doctor for proper diagnosis.

Tests for Thyroid Cancer

This will start with a physical examination by the doctor by feeing the neck, the thyroid, the lymph nodes and the voice box for growths or swelling that is abnormal or unusual. Then the test can proceed to blood tests for abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in the blood. Depending on the outcome of the physical examination or the blood test, other tests such as ultrasonography, radionuclide scanning, biopsy, Fine-needle aspiration and surgical biopsy might also be carried out.

Prevention of Thyroid

This type of cancer is hard to prevent since the causes are not known. However, most of the preventive measures for other types of cancer will work for thyroid cancer too. They include a diet plan that is composed of high consumption of vegetables and fruits, less consumption of saturated fat and keeping a healthy weight.

Treatment Of Thyroid Cancer

The treatment types that are usually embarked on for treatment of thyroid gland include; surgery, Lobectomy, Radiation therapy Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy and Thyroid hormone therapy.