Thyroid Cancer is not a type of cancer that typically makes headlines. But it's vital to learn the facts about thyroid cancer because more and more people are being diagnosed with the disease nowadays.
Nobody ever gives much thought to their thyroid, but the small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck beneath Adam’s apple has a huge influence on your entire body.
The prevalence of thyroid cancers is rapidly increasing in India especially among the younger population (age group < 40). Reports suggest that cancer of thyroid gland forms the commonest type (60 percent) occurring in the endocrine system. Thyroid cancer also accounts for one percent of all body cancers. This can affect an individual of any age group, although it affects women predominantly in a ratio of 3:1, men are not altogether spared.
Types of Thyroid cancer
There are four types of thyroid cancer:
- Papillary carcinoma (PTC): This is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately 70- 80 percent of cases. In fact, this is the 8th most common cancer among women overall as well as the most common cancer in women younger than 25. Papillary carcinomas are slow growing, differentiated cancers that develop from follicular cells which can develop in one or both lobes of the thyroid gland and may spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck. Although the most common etiologic factors for papillary thyroid cancer include radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid cancer, it is important to note that the majority of patients have no risk factors at all. Luckily, papillary carcinoma is also the thyroid cancer with the best prognosis and most patients can be cured if treated appropriately and early enough.
- Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma (FTC): FTC is the second most common type of malignancy arising from follicular cells, and accounts for approximately one out of 10 cases. This is found more frequently in countries with an insufficient dietary intake of iodine, however, tends to occur less common now days than in the past. When compared with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), FTC does not spread into lymph nodes of the neck but they are more likely than papillary cancers to spread to other organs, like the lungs or the bones. In general, it is associated with a good prognosis while it is rather more aggressive than papillary cancer. Follicular carcinoma is further classified into three categories based on the scale of invasion: widely, moderately and minimally invasive FTC. Minimally invasive FTC is generally a more sluggish, slow-growing disease. Widely invasive FTC is more aggressive and exhibits a poorer prognosis than moderately and minimally invasive FTC.
- Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC): Also known as oxyphil cell carcinoma, this is a subtype of follicular carcinoma and accounts for approximately 3 -5 percent of all thyroid cancers. Hurthle cells in thyroid are cells that have undergone oncocytic change (cellular change as a result of accumulation of altered mitochondria. distinguished by a profuse eosinophilic granular cytoplasm) and they can also spread to neck lymph nodes.
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC): They are a rare form of thyroid cancer and develop from parafollicular cells or C cells in the thyroid gland; however, they are more aggressive and less differentiated than papillary or follicular cancers. Approximately 3-4 percent of all thyroid cancers will be of the medullary subtype. Compared with the more differentiated thyroid cancers, these cancers are more likely to spread to lymph nodes and other organs. They usually originate in the upper central lobe of the thyroid.
- Anaplastic carcinoma (ATC): This is the least common type of thyroid cancer and also the most undifferentiated type of thyroid cancer, meaning that it looks the least like normal cells of the thyroid gland. Consequently, it is a very aggressive form of cancer that quickly spreads to other parts of the neck and body. It occurs in approximately 1-2 percent of thyroid cancer cases and are more common in older people (with an average age of about 60).
Thyroid cancer- Unknown facts:
- Thyroid cancer is becoming more common - Over the last decade, the frequency has increased three to five-fold worldwide. Experts suggest that at least some of that spike is due to increased screening along with improved imaging techniques.
- Thyroid cancer may not present symptoms – You may be aware of classical thyroid symptoms. Sometimes thyroid cancer may be asymptomatic or completely without symptoms. This means, there is a possibility it has developed even if you do not present symptoms of thyroid cancer.
- 2 in 3 cases are in people younger than 55-
- Though cancer, in general, is rare among the younger population, most thyroid cancer patients are in the age group of 30-50, and about 2% of thyroid cancers occur in teens and children. Thyroid cancer tops the chart for cancer in women of age group 15-30 and the second most common cancer (behind breast cancer) for women of age (30-39)
- Thyroid cancer doesn’t alter the functions of thyroid gland (most of the times) - Unlike hyper- and hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer does not cause symptoms such as heart palpitation, weight changes and thinning hair. Most of the time thyroid cancer doesn’t affect how well your thyroid does its job and there are exceptions, but it continues to function normally
- If you are a thyroid cancer patient, you are at risk of developing other cancers - Unfortunately, most of thyroid cancer patients are not aware that they have an increased risk of developing secondary forms of cancer. While thyroid cancer has a high rate of survivability, it is really significant for thyroid cancer survivors to remain cautious during and after treatment.
Risk factors for thyroid cancer
Risk factors for thyroid cancer include:
- Having a family history of thyroid cancer
- Those who have a bowel condition known as familial adenomatous polyposis
- Having a history of breast cancer
- Acromegaly – a hormonal disorder where the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone(GH)
- Radiation exposure
- People with Carney complex or Cowden disease
- Age is also a risk factor. Thyroid cancer is most likely to occur for older people (age group < 40).
- Lifestyle factors such as low iodine diet
- Thyroid cancer is more prevalent among Asian people
Dr. Shiva Kumar Uppala, one of the best cancer doctors in India who has performed more than 500 surgeries till now, is an experienced surgical oncologist with specialization in minimal access surgical techniques. He received extensive training and has done his residency in surgical oncology from esteemed institutions. Considered as the best for thyroid cancer treatment in India, contact his services for the best oncology treatments in Bangalore.
Mail us: oncologistindiadrshiva@gmail.com
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