The diagnosis of thyroid cancer involves careful clinical evaluation, including a detailed patient history and physical examination. Specialized blood and imaging tests are usually ordered, as well as microscopic examination of tumor cells. A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid is also often required. Treatment is typically based on the type of cancer and its stage. It’s important to discuss any financial concerns with your healthcare provider. Symptoms of thyroid cancer may vary greatly from one person to another, so it’s important to discuss any possible problems with your health care provider.
Post-operative monitoring includes regular checks of thyroid hormone levels and TSH, and blood tests for thyroglobulin levels. If these tests don’t rule out thyroid cancer, you’ll be referred to a specialist, often an endocrine surgeon or endocrinologist. Your doctor will review your case with a multidisciplinary team to determine the best course of treatment. Your doctor may refer you to a nuclear medicine specialist, a head and neck surgeon, a vascular surgeon, a voice specialist, and an imaging team.
Surgery is usually the treatment of choice for anaplastic thyroid cancer, but sometimes a combination of surgeries is necessary. Radioactive iodine therapy is ineffective in these cases, as undifferentiated cells are resistant to this treatment method. In some cases, patients may opt for chemotherapy, which uses medicines to target the cancer cells. However, there is also a noninvasive option known as internal radiation therapy, which involves placing radioactive seeds directly into the cancerous tissue.
Familial MTC is a rare type of thyroid cancer. It affects approximately 4% of all thyroid cancers and develops in the C cells of the thyroid gland. These cells produce the hormone calcitonin, which helps regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. Medullary thyroid cancer may spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes, the lungs, or the liver. Unlike familial MTC, sporadic MTC is not genetic and usually affects only one thyroid lobe.
Fortunately, treatments for most types of thyroid cancer are effective. Most patients will be cured of the disease, which is very rare. Although there are many risks involved in developing the disease, treatment is effective for most cases. In most cases, this type of cancer is curable with a combination of surgery and medications. In addition to medications, thyroid cancer is a sign of a larger problem and should be diagnosed as early as possible. The symptoms of thyroid cancer can be very similar to those of other types of cancer.
Papillary cancer, which develops from follicular cells, makes up 80% of all thyroid cancers. It can affect any age and is three times more common in women than in men. It is the seventh most common cancer among Australian women and is the most common type of cancer among women in their 20s and 30s. This type of cancer is usually curable, but treatment for papillary cancer is often more difficult. The main benefit of treatment for papillary cancer is that it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.
