Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer - cancer that forms in the thyroid gland, an organ that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. The tyroid is a gland located at the base of the throat near the windpipe and is shaped like a butterfly (right and left lobes). A healthy thyroid is about the size of a quarter. The thyroid uses iodine (a mineral found in iodize salt and other foods) to help make several hormones. There are 4 main types of thyroid cancers:
· Papillary thyroid cancer - the most common type of thyroid cancer.
· Follicular thyroid cancer
· Medullary thyroid cancer
· Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Age, gender, family history of thyroid disease, and exposure to radiation increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Factors that play a role in developing thyroid cancer:
· Being female
· Being between 25 and 65 years old
· Been exposed to radiation to the head and neck as a child.
· Having a history of goiter, an enlarged thyroid.
· Having a family history of thyroid disease/cancer.
· Being Asian.
· Change in a gene that is passed from parent to child (test that checks if such gene was passed exist).
Signs of thyroid cancer:
· A lump in the neck.
· Trouble breathing.
· Trouble swallowing.
· Hoarseness.
Tests to detect, diagnose, and stage thyroid cancer are:
Physical exam and history - an exam where a doctor checks for general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or swelling in the neck, voice box, and lymph nodes, and anything else that might seem unusual. A history of the patient’s health/ illnesses/treatments is also taken.
Laryngoscopy - a procedure in which the doctor checks the voice box with a mirror or with a laryngoscope. A laryngoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. A thyroid tumor may press on vocal cords. The laryngoscopy checks if the vocal cords are moving normally.
Blood hormone studies - a procedure where blood is checked to measure the amounts of certain hormones released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. Higher or lower than normal amount can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it. The blood may be checked for abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain and it stimulates the release of thyroid hormone, and controls how fast follicular thyroid cells grow. The blood may also be checked for high levels of the hormone calcitonin.
Blood chemistry studies - a procedure where blood is checked for certain substances, such as calcium, released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. Higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it.
Radioactive iodine scan (RAI scan) - a procedure to find areas in the body where thyroid cancer cells may be dividing quickly. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is used because only thyroid cells take up iodine. A very small amount of RAI is swallowed, travels through the blood, and collects in thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer cells anywhere in the body. Abnormal thyroid cells take up less iodine than normal thyroid tissue. Areas that do not absorb the iodine normally (cold spots) show up lighter in the picture made by the scan. Cold spots can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant, so a biopsy is done to find out if they are cancer.
Ultrasound exam - a procedure in which high-energy sound waves bounce off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. These echoes form a picture of body tissues.
CT/CAT Scan - a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. Often, a dye is injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues to show up more clearly. To learn more about different types of scans, please click here.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - a medical procedure that uses radio waves, a magnet, and a computer to take detailed pictures of the body.
PET scan (positive emission tomography scan) - a procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is given into the veins and the scanner makes pictures of the areas of the body where the glucose if being used. These malignant tumor cells appear brighter in the pictures because they are more active by using more glucose than normal cells.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid - the removal of thyroid tissue using a thin needle. The needle is inserted through the skin into the thyroid and samples are taken from different parts of the thyroid. Since the type of thyroid cancer can be hard to diagnose, it is recommended to ask to have biopsy samples checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Surgical biopsy - the removal of the thyroid nodule or one lobe of the thyroid during a surgery. Since the type of thyroid cancer can be hard to diagnose, it is recommended to ask to have biopsy samples checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Treatment for thyroid cancer
Patient’s age, type and stage of thyroid cancer, and patient’s general health condition play vital roles in prognosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. Also, whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred may also alter the treatment options. It is also important if the patient has multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN 2B).
Thyroid cancer - cancer that forms in the thyroid gland, an organ that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. The tyroid is a gland located at the base of the throat near the windpipe and is shaped like a butterfly (right and left lobes). A healthy thyroid is about the size of a quarter. The thyroid uses iodine (a mineral found in iodize salt and other foods) to help make several hormones. There are 4 main types of thyroid cancers:
· Papillary thyroid cancer - the most common type of thyroid cancer.
· Follicular thyroid cancer
· Medullary thyroid cancer
· Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Age, gender, family history of thyroid disease, and exposure to radiation increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Factors that play a role in developing thyroid cancer:
· Being female
· Being between 25 and 65 years old
· Been exposed to radiation to the head and neck as a child.
· Having a history of goiter, an enlarged thyroid.
· Having a family history of thyroid disease/cancer.
· Being Asian.
· Change in a gene that is passed from parent to child (test that checks if such gene was passed exist).
Signs of thyroid cancer:
· A lump in the neck.
· Trouble breathing.
· Trouble swallowing.
· Hoarseness.
Tests to detect, diagnose, and stage thyroid cancer are:
Physical exam and history - an exam where a doctor checks for general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or swelling in the neck, voice box, and lymph nodes, and anything else that might seem unusual. A history of the patient’s health/ illnesses/treatments is also taken.
Laryngoscopy - a procedure in which the doctor checks the voice box with a mirror or with a laryngoscope. A laryngoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. A thyroid tumor may press on vocal cords. The laryngoscopy checks if the vocal cords are moving normally.
Blood hormone studies - a procedure where blood is checked to measure the amounts of certain hormones released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. Higher or lower than normal amount can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it. The blood may be checked for abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain and it stimulates the release of thyroid hormone, and controls how fast follicular thyroid cells grow. The blood may also be checked for high levels of the hormone calcitonin.
Blood chemistry studies - a procedure where blood is checked for certain substances, such as calcium, released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. Higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it.
Radioactive iodine scan (RAI scan) - a procedure to find areas in the body where thyroid cancer cells may be dividing quickly. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is used because only thyroid cells take up iodine. A very small amount of RAI is swallowed, travels through the blood, and collects in thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer cells anywhere in the body. Abnormal thyroid cells take up less iodine than normal thyroid tissue. Areas that do not absorb the iodine normally (cold spots) show up lighter in the picture made by the scan. Cold spots can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant, so a biopsy is done to find out if they are cancer.
Ultrasound exam - a procedure in which high-energy sound waves bounce off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. These echoes form a picture of body tissues.
CT/CAT Scan - a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. Often, a dye is injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues to show up more clearly. To learn more about different types of scans, please click here.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - a medical procedure that uses radio waves, a magnet, and a computer to take detailed pictures of the body.
PET scan (positive emission tomography scan) - a procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is given into the veins and the scanner makes pictures of the areas of the body where the glucose if being used. These malignant tumor cells appear brighter in the pictures because they are more active by using more glucose than normal cells.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid - the removal of thyroid tissue using a thin needle. The needle is inserted through the skin into the thyroid and samples are taken from different parts of the thyroid. Since the type of thyroid cancer can be hard to diagnose, it is recommended to ask to have biopsy samples checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Surgical biopsy - the removal of the thyroid nodule or one lobe of the thyroid during a surgery. Since the type of thyroid cancer can be hard to diagnose, it is recommended to ask to have biopsy samples checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Treatment for thyroid cancer
Patient’s age, type and stage of thyroid cancer, and patient’s general health condition play vital roles in prognosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. Also, whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred may also alter the treatment options. It is also important if the patient has multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN 2B).
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What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
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© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
home | about us |get involved | donate | resources | contact us
© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.