A malignant tumor can spread to any organ. Thyroid is no exception. Transformation of glandular epithelial cells into oncological ones, their uncontrolled division contribute to the development of a life-threatening disease. From the materials in this article you will learn what symptoms are associated with thyroid cancer, how many people live with such a diagnosis, how this pathology can be prevented.
Disease Description
The thyroid gland is an integral part of the endocrine system of the body. Like many other organs, it continuously produces hormones. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine are responsible for the regulation of the brain, metabolic processes, and the rate of formation of blood cells.
The thyroid gland is located in the larynx. Despite its small size, this organ is well felt. His work is controlled by the pituitary gland. The higher the activity of the gland, the less hormone the pituitary gland produces, and vice versa.
Thyroid cancer is a tumor of a malignant nature, which gradually forms from the cells of the organ. The disease is recognized as very rare. It accounts for about 1% of all malignant neoplasms and less than 0.5% of deaths.
The peak incidence is recorded at the age of 45-60 years. In children and adolescents, this type of oncology also occurs. Thyroid cancer in women is diagnosed three times more often than in men. In old age, men are more likely to get sick than their peers.
Thyroid cancer belongs to the group of non-aggressive tumors. A neoplasm for years may not appear, or increase in size. However, this is not a reason to ignore the disease and postpone its treatment. Modern diagnostic methods help to identify oncology in the initial stages of development and immediately begin therapy.
Types of Thyroid Cancer
This body is considered truly unique. Iron produces many hormones that are responsible for regulating the basic processes in the human body. Individual cells become a kind of basis for the development of certain types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, anaplastic, medullary.
Papillary carcinoma accounts for up to 85% of the total number of malignant neoplasms. The tumor is characterized by slow growth and usually occurs in one lobe of the organ. 15% of patients have bilateral thyroid cancer. How many patients live with such a diagnosis is hard to say. The neoplasm on its surface has many protrusions that look like papillae. If you examine the thyroid gland in completely healthy people, tiny tumors can be detected in 10% of cases. They do not manifest themselves in any way, but sometimes they reach impressive sizes, which requires immediate treatment.
Follicular carcinoma is considered the second most common malignant tumor of the gland. The disease is most often detected in those countries where there is a deficiency of iodine in food. Usually the tumor does not extend beyond the thyroid gland, but sometimes it can metastasize to other organ systems. With timely treatment, cancer patients recover.
Anaplastic carcinoma is a very rare type of tumor in which cells atypical for it sequentially develop in the gland. They lose their primary functions and can only share. The neoplasm is characterized by rapid growth and spread throughout the body. The prognosis in patients in most cases is unfavorable, cancer leads to death.
Medullary carcinoma accounts for 5% of the total number of malignant gland neoplasms. A tumor can affect the lymph nodes and lungs. The disease is accompanied by "hot flashes", redness of the face, impaired stool. Medullary cancer is usually detected in people after 45 years. Both women and men suffer from it equally. It is proved that the disease is inherited.
The main causes of thyroid cancer
The causes of this insidious disease are still not fully defined. Doctors call several factors that can several times increase the likelihood of developing a tumor of a malignant nature.
- Radioactive radiation. Studies conducted in the areas affected by the Chernobyl accident showed that after the explosion, the incidence increased by 15 times.
- Radiation therapy. Prolonged exposure can cause thyroid problems decades later. The cells of the body become prone to various mutations, active division and growth.
- Hereditary predisposition. Scientists have discovered a specific gene that is transmitted from close relatives and is responsible for the development of this disease. Its presence in the body almost 100% guarantees the appearance of oncology. For preventive purposes, after diagnosis, doctors recommend performing an operation to remove the gland.
- Work in hazardous industries.
- Frequent stresses. Serious psycho-emotional overload negatively affects the defenses of the human body. It is the immune cells that are responsible for the destruction of cancerous tumors.
- Bad habits.
- Changes at the hormonal level due to pregnancy or menopause.
The combination of one or several factors at once leads to cancer. Reasons discovered in a timely manner allow you to choose the most effective treatment option for pathology.
Symptoms of the disease
This organ looks like a butterfly. It is localized on the front of the neck and covered with skin, so that the thyroid gland is clearly visible.
The first sign of tumor development is the appearance of a small nodule on the gland itself. It is clearly distinguishable under the skin and resembles a slight elevation. At the initial stages, the mobility of the nodule is limited, painful discomfort is absent. As the disease progresses, it begins to increase in size and becomes more dense.
You should not panic if you find such a nodule on your neck. Many people have seals, but only in 5% of cases are cancerous tumors.
Another sign of a thyroid problem is an enlarged lymph node in the neck. Sometimes this is the only symptom of the disease. Later, the tumor becomes larger, which is accompanied by a characteristic clinical picture. Patients often complain of a lump in the throat, trouble swallowing, and sore neck. These symptoms indicate the development of a neoplasm. The seal gradually begins to squeeze the esophagus and trachea.
Stages of neoplasm development
In any oncological disease, four stages of development are distinguished. Thyroid cancer is no exception in this regard. How many patients with this disease live, you will learn later in the materials of this article.
When determining the stage of the disease, the doctor usually takes into account the size of the neoplasm, as well as the presence of metastases. Metastasis is a secondary tumor. It is formed after cancer cells spread to other organs with the help of lymph flow.
The first stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a small tumor that does not deform the capsule of the gland. At the next stage, new formations are formed that destroy the thyroid gland. The third stage is characterized by the introduction of compaction into the capsule of the gland. It begins to squeeze the trachea and surrounding tissues, metastases appear. When the thyroid gland greatly increases in size and becomes motionless, we are talking about the fourth stage of cancer.
Oncologist consultation
If all symptoms indicate a tumor on the thyroid gland, you should visit an endocrinologist. There is no need to immediately contact an oncologist, because the symptoms that are not always described in the article indicate a malignant formation.
Consultation of the endocrinologist usually begins with the questioning of the patient, identifying possible causes of the pathology. Then the specialist conducts a visual inspection. A tumor in an advanced stage is visible with the naked eye.
Based on the results of the examination, the endocrinologist can draw a conclusion about the presence of the disease and refer him to a narrower specialist - an oncologist. A more detailed examination is usually required to determine the nature of the neoplasm.
How to diagnose thyroid cancer?
In order to identify cancer, the causes of its development, a serious diagnostic examination is required. It includes ultrasound of the thyroid gland, cytological examination, blood test, MRI.
Using ultrasound, you can determine the size and exact location of the tumor. The so-called thyroid test is necessary to detect the content of its hormones in the blood. Cytological examination involves the collection of tumor tissue for subsequent examination of the material under a microscope.
Based on the results of the tests, the oncologist recommends a course of therapy.
Thyroid tumor treatment options
Unfortunately, conservative therapy for thyroid cancer is difficult. An exception is neoplasms at the initial stage of development caused by an imbalance in hormonal levels. In other cases, doctors recommend removal of the thyroid gland. Cancer stops in its development.
Timely detected education can be removed, while maintaining the organ. If the hormones in the blood are overestimated, patients are additionally prescribed therapy with thyreostatic drugs (Carbimazole, Propicil).
Before and after surgical procedures to remove the tumor, patients are prohibited from taking sun baths, visiting the solarium. Ultraviolet radiation can aggravate the course of the disease and cause complications.
In patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the operation involves hemithyroidectomy, that is, the removal of a portion of the organ that is affected by the tumor. Patients aged can not always undergo surgery. Therefore, their treatment consists of radioactive iodine therapy .
Doctors Forecasts
The prognosis for thyroid cancer is more optimistic than for other formations of a malignant nature. For example, patients under 45 years of age and with compaction volumes of up to 3 cm have a high chance of full recovery. In elderly patients, the prognosis is not so favorable. Of course, a lot depends on what type of thyroid cancer.
- How many patients with papillary oncology live? Five-year survival in this case is 95-100%.
- In people with stage 4 follicular carcinoma, this figure does not exceed 55%.
- With medullary cancer, doctors guarantee a final recovery of 98% of patients. If the disease is at the last stage, this indicator barely exceeds 25%.
- An anaplastic thyroid cancer is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis. After surgery to remove the tumor, patients with this diagnosis die most often within one year after confirmation of the disease.
Regardless of the form of the disease and the stage of its development, it is important to remember that timely treatment and an unlimited desire to live allow us to defeat any pathology!