Thyroid Cancer Treatment
There are four types of tumors that can result in a patient experiencing symptoms of thyroid cancer: papillary, anaplastic, follicular, and medullary tumors. By far the most common, papillary tumors are easily treatable as they are easily detectable and grow at slow rates. Papillary thyroid cancer symptoms may include a swollen lymph node which may lead to vocal changes or persistent pain in the neck area. Follicular tumors also have high cure rates, but are less common than the papillary variety. Medullary tumors are not common, but require a more intensive treatment plan. Anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment is a much rarer situation, only occurring in 5% of thyroid cancer patients, but much more serious. Treatment for thyroid cancer survival rates of patients with anaplastic tumors is not good and many cases end in fatalities.
In the cases of papillary and follicular tumors, the cancer is treated quite easily. The thyroid gland is removed followed by the administration of radioactive iodine pills. As thyroid cells are the only cells that can absorb iodine, only the remaining thyroid cells are damaged. However, after the thyroid has been removed, it is necessary for a patient to take thyroid hormones for the remainder of their life. In patients with medullary tumors, the procedure also may involve removing the lymph nodes as they may be infected with the cancer. Anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment is not usually successful as the cancer has usually spread to other regions of the body. In some cases a tracheostomy may provide some relief to the patient.
Although they are normally found in patients over 30 years of age, symptoms of thyroid cancer may be found in all age groups. What starts as a nodule on the thyroid gland slowly grows and infects the healthy cells of the organ. This could result in the previously mentioned papillary thyroid cancer symptoms. As the cancer grows, it may spread to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body.
As physicians are not entirely sure what causes thyroid cancer, prevention can be difficult. Those patients that have a family medical history of thyroid ailments may wish to have a prophylactic throidectomy to prevent the problem. Also, living near a nuclear power plant creates a higher risk of thyroid cancer. Patients in this situation can obtain potassium iodide that will block radiation of the thyroid in case of a nuclear accident.
In the course of treatment for thyroid cancer survival rates are very optimistic. The procedure is relatively simple although there is a risk of internal bleeding and infections. The surgeon will make an incision on the base of the patient’s neck to remove the gland. In the removal, some thyroid tissue will be left to be treated with the iodine pills. There are also risks of vocal and nerve damage due to the close proximity of the vocal chords and important spinal nerves. If symptoms of thyroid cancer are experienced after surgery, it could be a sign that the condition has returned.