Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones.

It's most common in people in their 30s and those over the age of 60. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop it than men.

It is usually treatable and in many cases can be cured completely, although it can sometimes come back after treatment. The rates seem to be increasing. Some doctors think this is because new technology is allowing them to find small thyroid cancers that may not have been found in the past.

Symptoms  

IT is typically doesn't cause any signs or symptoms early in the disease. As thyroid cancer grows, it may cause:

A lump (nodule) that can be felt through the skin on your neck.

Changes to your voice, including increasing hoarseness.

Difficulty swallowing.

Pain in your neck and throat.

Swollen lymph nodes in your neck.

Types of thyroid cancer

There are 4 main types of thyroid cancer:

Papillary thyroid cancer: The most common form of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer arises from follicular cells, which produce and store thyroid hormones. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but most often it affects people ages 30 to 50. Doctors sometimes refer to papillary thyroid cancer and follicular thyroid cancer together as differentiated thyroid cancer.

Follicular thyroid cancer: Follicular thyroid cancer also arises from the follicular cells of the thyroid. It usually affects people older than age 50. Hurthle cell cancer is a rare and potentially more aggressive type of follicular thyroid cancer.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid cancer that begins in the follicular cells. It grows rapidly and is very difficult to treat. Anaplastic thyroid cancer typically occurs in adults age 60 and older.

Medullary thyroid cancer: Medullary thyroid cancer begins in thyroid cells called C cells, which produce the hormone calcitonin. Elevated levels of calcitonin in the blood can indicate medullary thyroid cancer at a very early stage. Certain genetic syndromes increase the risk of medullary thyroid cancer, although this genetic link is uncommon.

Causes

It's not clear what causes thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in your thyroid undergo genetic changes (mutations). The mutations allow the cells to grow and multiply rapidly. The cells also lose the ability to die, as normal cells would. The accumulating abnormal thyroid cells form a tumor. The abnormal cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Overall, if you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, your doctor will create a thyroid cancer treatment plan for you .The first is a comprehensive evaluation of your thyroid and neck with high-resolution ultrasound and possible additional fine needle aspiration biopsy. The second step is almost always surgery including some type of thyroidectomy.  Other thyroid cancer treatments such as radioactive iodine are not commonly required.  More aggressive thyroid cancers may incorporate a combination of other thyroid cancer treatments beyond surgery and radioactive iodine.

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Regards
Amalia
Managing Editor
Journal Of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research.