The second most common type, follicular thyroid cancer, is more common in regions that do not get enough iodine from their diet. Although iodine deficiency may increase the risk for this type of cancer, further studies are needed to determine the relationship between lack of iodine and thyroid cancer. Both types have favorable prognoses, but if left untreated, they can spread to other parts of the body.
Thyroid surgery can affect the production of thyroid hormones and may result in a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Patients with thyroid cancer may need to take oral supplements to replace thyroid hormones. Surgery can cause swelling and pressure in the throat, which can make it difficult for patients to breathe properly. Thyroid cancer may also present with pressure symptoms and a voice loss. If a patient has a history of thyroid disease, they may be screened for the disease and undergo surgery if necessary.
Patients with an inoperable thyroid gland can take supplemental thyroid hormone after the operation. Supplemental thyroid hormone replaces the hormones lost during the surgery and helps to prevent hypothyroidism. This type of surgery also reduces the production of TSH, the hormone made by the pituitary gland, which stimulates the growth of normal thyroid tissue and cancer cells. Patients undergoing a lobectomy, on the other hand, do not have to take supplemental hormone. The remaining lobe produces enough thyroid hormone to maintain a patient’s normal levels.
While thyroid cancer can occur without any symptoms, there are many signs that the condition is present. A doctor may find a lump on your thyroid through a physical exam or imaging of the neck. Patients with symptoms such as hoarseness or swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck may also seek treatment. The most common form of thyroid cancer is surgical removal, followed by follow-up therapy. Some forms of thyroid cancer may spread to other parts of the body.
People with inherited genetic syndromes are at a higher risk for thyroid cancer. Approximately two out of every 10 medullary thyroid cancer cases are due to inherited abnormalities in gene inheritance. Deficiencies in iodine are also linked to an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Some people also suffer from radiation exposure, which is known to increase the risk of developing the disease. While there are a number of factors that may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, there are many other causes that can cause the disease.
Papillary thyroid cancer makes up approximately eighty percent of thyroid cancer cases in the United States. This type usually grows slowly and rarely spreads to nearby lymph nodes. Surgical resection of the disease is the preferred method of treatment in this case, as it is the easiest type to treat. Another type of thyroid cancer, known as follicular thyroid cancer, accounts for 10 to fifteen percent of thyroid cancer cases in the US. Follicular thyroid cancer is more likely to spread into lymph nodes and blood vessels.
