Thyroid Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Thyroid Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments that we should be informed of. Also, thyroid cancer is a disease that you get when abnormal cells start to grow in your thyroid gland . The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is located in front of the neck. It makes hormones that regulate how your body uses energy and that help your body function normally.

Thyroid cancer  is an uncommon  type of cancer. Most people who get treatments do it very well, because thyroid cancer  is usually found early and treatments work well. After treatment, thyroid cancer can come back, sometimes many years after treatment.

Main Causes:  Experts do not know what causes thyroid cancer . But like other cancers, changes in your cells’ DNA appear to play a role. These DNA changes can include changes that are inherited as well as those that happen as you age.

People who have been exposed to a lot of radiation are more likely to get thyroid cancer . A dental X-ray every now and then will not increase your chances of getting thyroid cancer . But past radiation treatment of your head, neck, or chest (especially during childhood) can put you at risk for getting thyroid cancer .

Main Symptoms:  Thyroid cancer can cause several symptoms:

• You may get a lump or swelling in your neck. This is the most common symptom.
• You may have pain in your neck and sometimes in your ears.
• You may have trouble swallowing.
• You may have trouble breathing or have constant wheezing.
• Your voice may be hoarse.
• You may have a frequent cough that is not related to a cold.

Some people may not have any symptoms. Your doctors may find a lump in your neck during a routine physical exam.

How It’s Diagnosed:  If you have a lump in your neck that could be thyroid cancer , your doctor may do a biopsy of your thyroid gland to check for cancer cells. A biopsy is a simple procedure in which a small piece of thyroid tissue is removed, usually with a needle, and then checked.

Sometimes the results of a biopsy are unclear. In this case, you may need surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland before finding out if you have thyroid cancer .

Treatments:  Thyroid cancer is treated with surgery and often with radioactive iodine. Rarely needs radiation or chemotherapy. The treatment you need depends on your age, the type of thyroid cancer and the stage of your disease. The stage refers to how severe the disease is and how far, if any, the cancer has spread.

Finding out you have cancer can be overwhelming. It is common to feel scared, sad or even angry. Talking to others who have had thyroid cancer can help. Ask your doctor about cancer support groups in your area.

How to Prevent:  Most thyroid cancer cannot be prevented. A rare type of thyroid cancer, called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), runs in families. A genetic test can tell you if you are more likely to get TCM. If this test shows you are at increased risk, you can have your thyroid gland removed to reduce your risk of thyroid cancer later in life.