What is thyroid cancer?

In 2012, it was estimated that 42 million Indians are affected till date with thyroid cancer.

It is a growing trend among women to be affected with breast, gallbladder and thyroid cancer.  

Cancer prevention: What is thyroid cancer? 

The thyroid is a gland that lies in front of the windpipe (trachea), just below the voice box. The gland uses iodine from food to make thyroid hormones. When the normal cells in the Thyroid Gland change into abnormal cells and grow out of control spreading to another organ, it results in Thyroid Cancer. Although it is an uncommon form of cancer but there are different types of thyroid cancer like Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), Follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Anaplastic carcinoma and Thyroid lymphoma.

What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?

Initially, people are unable to notice any symptoms at initial stages. But as a thyroid cancer grows and develops, it is more likely to cause symptoms like:

- Hoarseness in voice or being unable to talk
- Lump in the neck
- Enlargement of the neck
- Trouble in breathing
- Trouble in swallowing
- Coughing up blood

All of these symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not thyroid cancer.

What are the causes of thyroid cancer?

Radiation exposure: the most important risk factor for the development of differentiated thyroid cancer is a history of radiation exposure during childhood. Potential sources of radiation exposure include medical uses of radiation (eg, treatment of childhood malignancies) or environmental exposure secondary to atomic weapons (eg, Nagasaki/Hiroshima, Japan), or nuclear power plant accidents (eg, Chernobyl). 

Family history: a history of thyroid cancer in a first-degree relative or a family history of a thyroid cancer syndrome increases the risk that a nodule may be malignant.

Other: there are a number of other possible (but not proven) risk factors that have been reported. Their relative importance appears to be small, but not completely defined. Potential risk factors include the following:
- Occupational and environmental exposures
- Hepatitis-C-related chronic hepatitis
- Increased parity and late age during the first pregnancy

 the treatments for thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is usually treated in the following ways:

Surgery: In most cases, thyroid cancer is treated with surgery to remove the cancer. Doctors remove a part or all of your thyroid gland. At times the nearby lymph nodes are also removed, which are bean-shaped organs that help in the body's infection-fighting system.

Radioactive iodine: Radioactive iodine (also called "radio iodine therapy") comes in the form of a pill or liquid that can be swallowed. It has a small amount of radiation and can destroy much of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid hormone: Doctors prescribe thyroid hormone medicines after surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. That way, the body receives the correct amount of thyroid hormone.

External-beam radiation therapy: This treatment uses high doses of X-rays, called radiation, to kill cancer cells. The radiation comes from a machine that is outside the body.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It is typically given as an infusion through a vein. Although, Chemotherapy is not commonly used in the treatment of thyroid cancer, but it may benefit some people who don't respond to other, more standard therapies.

Finally , "To avoid the cancer from coming back after a treatment, regular follow-up tests including examinations, blood tests, and imaging tests are a must. Doctors will also perform regular follow-up blood tests to keep a check on the thyroid hormone levels."