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Tag: Thyroid cancer

health

Thyroid Cancer: What one Need to Know

Mar 25, 2025 by K S Krishna 0 Comments #Dr Narayana Subramaniam, #Thyroid cancer

DR Narayana Subramaniam

By DR Narayana Subramaniam

Bengaluru March 25, 2025– The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located at the front of the neck. It plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and many other vital bodily functions. While thyroid disorders often involve decreased hormone production, the gland can also be affected by cancer. Dr Narayana Subramainam shares some important insights into the same.

How Common Is Thyroid Cancer and Who Is at Risk?

Thyroid cancer is more common in women. In India, it affects approximately 3-4 women per 1 lakh population and 1 man per 1 lakh population. Although it can occur at any age—from children to the elderly—most cases are diagnosed in individuals aged 30 to 50 years.
There are four major types of thyroid cancer, with papillary carcinoma being the most common. Fortunately, it typically responds well to treatment, and most patients go on to lead normal, healthy lives.

What Are the Signs of Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer often causes mild or no symptoms. However, possible signs include:

  • A lump in the front of the neck that moves when swallowing.
  • Voice changes or hoarseness.
  • Discomfort or difficulty swallowing.
  • Swelling or lumps on the side of the neck (due to lymph node involvement).
  • Occasionally, it is incidentally detected during neck scans done for other reasons.
  • Rarely, thyroid cancer may present as a rapidly growing, painful neck mass with swallowing or breathing difficulties.

How Is It Diagnosed? Should You Get Screened?

Thyroid cancer is usually diagnosed through:

  • Ultrasound scanning of the neck.
  • Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) – a needle test used to confirm the diagnosis.
  • CT or MRI scans may be necessary in advanced cases.

Routine screening is not required unless you have a family history of thyroid cancer. This is because many people have harmless, non-cancerous thyroid nodules that can lead to unnecessary tests, procedures, and anxiety when detected incidentally.

How Is It Treated?

Treatment typically involves:

  • Surgery: Removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy), sometimes along with affected lymph nodes.
  • Radioiodine therapy: A nuclear medicine treatment that targets remaining or spread cancer cells.
  • Radiotherapy or chemotherapy: Used in select cases, depending on the cancer type and stage.

Is It Curable?

Yes, thyroid cancer is often curable.

  • Papillary thyroid cancer in younger patients (<55 years) has a nearly 100% survival rate at 5 years.
  • Other types also have high survival rates, depending on the type, stage, and treatment.
  • Even in advanced cases, survival is possible with early diagnosis and appropriate, specialized treatment.

Early detection and timely, expert care are key to maximizing outcomes. If you have concerns or symptoms, consult with a qualified specialist promptly.

health

Thyroid cancer; early detection can aid in better treatment

Jan 28, 2022 by Gouri 0 Comments #Aakash Healthcare, #Dr. Arun Kumar Giri, #Dwarka, #Papillary Thyroid Cancer, #Thyroid cancer
By – Dr. Arun Kumar Giri, Director-Surgical Oncology, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck that produces hormones that help the body to function normally. Even a minor thyroid imbalance can have a number of negative consequences for health and well-being.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid hormone produced by the body is insufficient. You may have an underactive thyroid if you are constantly tired, overweight, and unable to tolerate cold temperatures. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, occurs when the body produces too much thyroid hormone, causing weight loss, anxiety, sleep problems, irregular periods, and sensitivity to heat.

Thyroid swelling (goitre), as well as benign and malignant (cancerous) thyroid nodules, are the other prominent disorders of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid cancer is becoming more common in India, particularly among the younger population. It is usually asymptomatic or can appear as a lump in the neck. During clinical exams or imaging studies such as CT scans or sonograms, it is frequently mistaken for a benign thyroid nodule. If the cancer is not detected early enough, it can spread and cause pain, swallowing problems, and hoarseness.

Some of the common signs of thyroid cancer are:

· Lump in the neck that can be felt through the skin

· Voice changes, including increasing hoarseness

· Swallowing problems

· Neck and throat discomfort

· Neck lymph nodes that are swollen

· Bony swelling or pain( in cases of metastasis to bone)

Thyroid cancer affects women three times more than men. Women in their 40s and 50s, as well as men in their 60s and 70s, are commonly diagnosed with the disease.  It is also the second most common cancer found in pregnant women after breast cancer.

Most thyroid cancers are curable with thyroid surgery and radioiodine treatment if caught early. The majority of thyroid nodules are benign, with only 5% of nodules proving to be cancerous on average. Depending on the situation, your doctor may recommend that you have thyroid ultrasonography and, if necessary, a needle test of the nodule.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer

The most common type of thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid cancer (also known as papillary thyroid carcinoma). Papillary carcinoma most commonly appears as a solid, irregular, or cystic mass in otherwise healthy thyroid tissue. This type of cancer has a high cure rate, with 10-year survival rates for all papillary thyroid cancer patients estimated to be over 90%.

Surgery is the most common treatment option for papillary thyroid cancer around the world. Thyroid lobectomy may be used to treat papillary carcinomas that are well-circumscribed, isolated, and less than 4 cm in young patients (20 to 40 years old) with no history of radiation exposure (also called hemithyroidectomy, removal of half of the thyroid gland). A total thyroidectomy is the other surgical option for patients with papillary thyroid cancer (complete removal of the thyroid gland).

Other less common types of thyroid cancer are follicular, medullary and anaplastic carcinomas.

*How can thyroid cancer be prevented?*

Genetic tests can determine if you have an altered gene (a mutation) that increases your risk of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia. If you have the faulty gene, you may choose to have your thyroid gland removed as a preventive (prophylactic) procedure before cancer develops.

Iodine is necessary for normal thyroid gland function, so eating foods like fish, dairy products, and iodized salt can help avoid thyroid-related issues.