Thyroid oncology is not very common, but you need to know about this ailment. Doctors are still not able to completely cure malignant tumors in the later stages, therefore it is very important to detect the disease in time. How does thyroid cancer manifest? What are the first signs of the disease that can be detected independently? We will talk about this in our article.
Definition
Thyroid oncology, as noted above, is rare. A malignant tumor develops from the cells of an organ. According to statistics, thyroid cancer is diagnosed in 1% of patients, and a fatal outcome is usually in half of them.
The disease usually affects people between the ages of forty-five and sixty. Especially often the disease occurs in people related to the elimination of consequences at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Do not think that you need to worry only at the age of risk. The problem is that a malignant lesion affects people of any age. Even adolescents and children are not immune from the onset of the disease. It is also noteworthy that in young patients the tumor develops much more aggressively than in people aged.
Studies have shown that thyroid cancer is more common in women. They are sick three times more often than the stronger sex. But men should not reduce their vigilance, because at the age of over sixty-five they are more susceptible to disease than women.
The disease is more often contracted in regions exposed to radiation. Residents of areas with insufficient iodine in nature also have risks. Scientists have long proved that thyroid cancer is more common among Europeans. Residents of South America, Asia and Africa have virtually no thyroid problems.
Doctors consider thyroid cancer to be a non-invasive tumor. Education may not resize for several years and not allow metastases. The slow course of the disease does not give the right to ignore the disease. It is important to consult a doctor on time, then the treatment will be relatively easy.
Causes
Oncology of the thyroid gland in women and men occurs under certain conditions. This disease, like any other, has its own characteristics. Scientists have not yet identified the exact causes, but they mentioned several factors that increase the risk of getting sick:
- Radioactive radiation. After the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a lot of research was conducted. Doctors examined people who participated in the elimination of the consequences, and found that the number of patients with thyroid cancer increased by fifteen times. The danger is also represented by radiation rains that manifest themselves after testing nuclear weapons.
- Age over forty years. Of course, malignant formations can also occur in children, but with age, the risk of getting sick becomes greater.
- Radiation therapy on the neck and head. If you have ever been exposed to prolonged exposure, then a potential threat looms over you. Human cells can begin to actively divide, grow, and mutate. Due to the processes, a follicular or papillary form of the tumor may occur. Remember that a neoplasm may appear several years after exposure.
- Harmful work. There are professions that contribute to the development of the tumor. For example, medical personnel working with ionizing radiation. Workers in hot shops are no less at risk, as are people interacting with heavy metals.
- Heredity. In the course of numerous studies, a certain gene was identified, which is not only inherited, but also provokes the development of thyroid cancer. If it is in the body, then the likelihood of an ailment is almost one hundred percent. If a gene is detected, medical experts suggest removing the thyroid gland for prevention.
- Frequent stresses. When a person is constantly in a stressful situation, then immunity decreases. Those who do not see this as a problem are mistaken. You need to understand that it is immunity that can resist cancer cells.
- Bad habits. This includes alcohol or tobacco addiction. The fact is that carcinogenic substances reduce the body's ability to withstand atypical cells.
In addition, some diseases can also trigger the formation of malignant neoplasms. Among them:
- Tumors of the mammary glands (benign and malignant). This is especially true for hormone-dependent formations. It can be argued that this confirms the results of studies on the fact that thyroid cancer is more common in women.
- Chronic diseases of female organs. Diseases of the ovaries and uterus (especially against the background of hormonal disorders) are active provocateurs of the disease.
- Colon cancer and polyps in it.
- Multinodular goiter.
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia.
- Nodules and benign tumors of the thyroid gland.
Signs of the disease
Symptoms of thyroid oncology can be seen even by a person unrelated to medicine. This is due to the fact that the iron itself resembles a butterfly in structure. Since the thyroid gland is covered only by the skin, its examination is significantly simplified. But even without him, an attentive person will notice that he has problems with the gland.
The common symptoms of thyroid cancer seen in women and men are as follows:
- The appearance of a small knot in the neck under the chin. It can be seen with the naked eye if you carefully examine yourself in the mirror. In the first stages, the nodule is very malleable and does not cause pain. He practically does not move. However, over time, its size increases, and the node itself becomes denser. In this case, it is better to go to the doctor first, and then start to panic. Nodes on the thyroid gland are found for various reasons. Only five percent of them can develop into a tumor. If you notice a nodule in a child, you should immediately consult a doctor, because until twenty years of age there should not be any tubercles and seals on the gland.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck. In men and women, the symptom of thyroid cancer is the same.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Pain in the cervical region, which gives to the ear.
- Hoarseness of voice.
- Lump in throat.
- Shortness of breath and shortness of breath.
- Cough not related to the common cold or allergy.
- Swelling of veins in the neck.
Soreness appears only if the tumor has reached impressive size and began to put pressure on neighboring organs. The voice changes due to metastases that have penetrated the vocal cords and the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Types of disease
There are common symptoms of thyroid cancer in women and men. Since problems with this organ cause hormonal instability, there are some features of the manifestation of the disease by gender. So, in women, a malignant formation on the thyroid gland causes:
- Loss of appetite.
- Horse Racing.
- Disruptions in the menstrual cycle.
- Hair loss.
- Frequent colds.
In men, the following can be noted:
- Decreased erection.
- Lack of sex drive.
- Vision problems.
- Poor tolerance of low temperatures.
The thyroid gland is a unique organ. With its help, hormones appear in the body that regulate vital processes in the human body. The form of thyroid cancer depends on which cells have become the basis for the development of the disease.
Doctors distinguish several types of this oncology:
- Papillary.
- Follicular.
- Medullary.
- Anaplastic.
Let's consider each form in more detail.
Papillary
The ailment is characterized in that on the surface of the cancerous tumor there are many protrusions that resemble papillae in some way. The papillary species is considered highly differentiated. This means that the affected cells differ little from ordinary ones. This form is found in eighty percent of patients.
But not everything is so bad, because the hallmark of the tumor is its slow growth. She practically does not let metastases and is effectively treated. Papillary formations more often occur in women than in men. The disease can manifest itself between the ages of thirty to fifty years. But do not worry, because it is perfectly treated, and the life expectancy after therapy can be more than twenty-five years.
Follicular
This form of the disease differs in the appearance of the tumor. It looks like a cluster of round bubbles. Follicular cancer occurs in approximately 15% of cases. Most often, it is diagnosed in people aged (mainly women).
With this form of germination in the blood vessels and adjacent tissues is not observed only in a third of cases. Because of this, the tumor is called minimally invasive. In approximately 60% of patients, cancer cells invade the lymph nodes, lungs and bones. It is noteworthy that these metastases are effectively treated with radioactive iodine.
Doctors give a good prognosis in cases where the patient is less than fifty years old. In old age, metastases can occur more actively.
Medullary
This form of tumor is extremely rare. It can occur only in 8% of cases from parafollicular cells that produce the hormone calcitonin, which is responsible for bone growth, and also regulates the level of calcium and phosphorus.
Medullary is more dangerous than all other types of cancer. It is believed so because a malignant tumor of this type grows in the muscles and trachea through the capsule. Cancer has special symptoms: it throws patients into fever, diarrhea, and their face turns red.
According to statistics, medullary tumors occur in people older than 40-50 years. Gender in this case does not play a big role. It was also revealed that patients had a hereditary predisposition to the disease. However, a malignant tumor can be detected in patients whose families do not have cancer patients.
The medullary type of cancer rarely appears on its own. Basically, along with the disease, other endocrine disorders, for example, multiple endocrine neoplasia, are detected. With medullary cancer, iodine therapy is not used because the cells do not absorb iodine.
As a treatment, only surgical intervention is used. You will have to remove not only the gland itself, but also the lymph nodes located on the neck. For patients older than fifty, doctors do not give comforting predictions.
Anaplastic
This type of cancer is considered the most rare form, because atypical cells that have nothing to do with the original healthy ones develop in the thyroid gland. They no longer perform useful functions, only actively reproduce. According to statistics, such formations are found in only 3% of patients.
Typically, this type of cancer is diagnosed in people over 65 years old. The disease progresses very quickly, and metastases penetrate into all organs. Treatment of thyroid oncology of this type does not give effective results. For this reason, the prognosis for patients is disappointing.
Diagnostics
Thyroid oncology treatment must be started at the first stages of the disease. Therefore, it is very important to identify it in time.
How is the disease diagnosed? The best method for determining malignancy is ultrasound. The procedure does not take much time and money, therefore it is available to all categories of citizens. Immediately after it, it becomes clear whether there are nodules on the organ, their size and exact location.
The disadvantage of the procedure is that it cannot be established with its help, malignant or benign. However, according to the results of this study, the doctor may suggest thyroid cancer. Symptoms of the disease in women and men at the beginning of the disease do not always indicate the appearance of a malignant neoplasm. Ultrasound helps doctors make a diagnosis. Experts may suggest the presence of oncology on the following grounds:
- The node has jagged or fuzzy edges.
- The node does not reflect the ultrasonic wave well.
- The node is not uniform in structure.
- The node has very good blood circulation.
To understand what cells the formation consists of, a fine-needle aspiration biopsy is used. The procedure is carried out under the control of special equipment. The doctor looks at the screen and inserts a thin needle into the tumor. In favor of this method is its accuracy and low invasiveness.
If a fine-needle biopsy does not clarify the situation, an open biopsy of the required area is prescribed. The essence of the method is that a small operation is performed, during which the doctor cuts off a small piece of education and sends it for examination.
Blood analysis
To accurately verify the diagnosis, the doctor suggests passing a blood test to the patient, after which treatment is prescribed. Symptoms of thyroid oncology may not be explicit enough. Therefore, experts rely on research results. They give exactly an idea of the state of the body.
The doctor prescribes a venous blood test. As soon as a person passes this biomaterial, the presence of tumor markers will be determined in the laboratory. Their overestimated level indicates a certain form of thyroid cancer. Consider in general terms what indicators are taken into account:
- Calcitonin. If there are multiple signs of thyroid cancer in women and men, and this indicator is also overestimated, then with a high probability we can assume a medicular form of cancer. If the patient has already undergone treatment, then an overestimated level indicates distant metastases. However, calcitonin can be elevated in pregnant women, people who take calcium supplements or hormonal contraceptives, as well as pancreatic diseases.
- BRAF gene. Thyroid oncology in men and women is determined using this indicator. Knowing the level of a gene, papillary thyroid cancer can be detected. In healthy people, BRAF is absent.
- Thyroglobulin. It is secreted by thyroid cells. If the level of this protein substance is overestimated, then the doctor suggests the presence of a follicular or papillary tumor.
- EGRF. With its help, an epidermal growth factor is determined. The analysis is done after removal of the tumor. If there is a lot of EGRF in the blood, then there is a high probability of relapse.
- Protooncogen mutations. If there has been a change in the genes, the patient most likely has medullary cancer. The study is conducted not only in patients, but also in his relatives.
- Thyroid antibodies in serum. With a high number of such proteins, an autoimmune thyroid disease is detected in a patient. Usually this happens with a papillary form of cancer.
Stages
The prognosis of thyroid cancer in women and men depends on the stage of the disease. Metastases are new tumor foci that appear after cancer cells spread through the body through the blood.
- First stage. At this stage, the tumor has a size of no more than two centimeters and is located in one lobe of the gland. Metastases have not yet arisen, and the thyroid capsule remains in its original state.
- Second stage. The tumor grows in size and deforms the thyroid gland. If there are several small neoplasms, then this condition is also the second stage. In this case, metastases may already appear.
- Third stage. At this time, the formation sprouts into the capsule of the organ. Signs of thyroid oncology become more pronounced, and analyzes only confirm the assumption. The tumor already begins to squeeze the trachea, adjacent tissues and fuses with them. Metastases occur in the cervical lymph nodes on both sides of the thyroid gland.
- Fourth stage. The thyroid gland ceases to be mobile, it is very increasing in size. Metastases are already in many organs.
Treatment
Oncology and nodes in the thyroid gland are not the same thing. Nodes are a kind of norm, if no other deviations are revealed on the ultrasound. Malignant education requires treatment. Most often it occurs through surgical intervention, but this is not the only option. The methods of therapy largely depend on the age of the patient and the type of tumor.
If the patient showed a papillary or follicular form of formation, then in the early stages, one lobe of the thyroid gland is removed. In this case, a resection of the isthmus of the gland is performed. In some cases, they leave him. If the tumor continues to grow, then the organ is completely removed. In the last stages, extrafascial total thyroidectomy is performed. Lymph nodes are also removed.
With medullary, papillary and undifferentiated cancer, the thyroid gland is completely removed.
In a neglected situation, when the lymph nodes on the neck have already metastasized, cervical lymphadenectomy is performed first. Extremely rarely, an extended operation is performed with resection of adjacent structures and organs. Whether it is needed or not depends on the spread of the disease.
There are other treatments:
- Radioiodine therapy. After thyroid cancer surgery, this type of therapy is prescribed to destroy the remaining metastases.
- Radiation Remote Therapy. Traditionally, this type of treatment is performed before removal of the thyroid gland. Oncology of the undifferentiated and squamous type lends itself to therapy quite well.
- Chemotherapy. It is prescribed for an undifferentiated and medullary form of oncology.
- Hormonal suppressive therapy. It is used for follicular and papillary thyroid cancer. Oncology of these types is successfully treated with complex therapy, which includes this method.
- Targeted therapy. It is traditionally used to treat medullary cancer and those species that are immune to treatment with iodine.
Forecast
After carrying out therapeutic measures, doctors are in no hurry to make a prognosis for thyroid cancer in women and men. Every three months, during the first year after treatment, patients undergo examination. In the second and third year, examinations are carried out once every four months. The next two years, patients are examined every six months. If during this period there were no complications, then in the future, former patients are checked once a year. Naturally, people are registered with the Oncology Center.
As for the prognosis of oncology of the thyroid gland, it is encouraging (when compared with tumors of other organs). If a person is younger than forty-five years old, and the size of his education is less than three centimeters, then it is possible to assume a complete recovery. For older people, things are much more complicated. However, among them there are completely cured.
The prognosis largely depends on the stage and type of tumor. Doctors say the following:
- Papillary cancer is relatively harmless, if I may say so about oncology. Among the patients who were treated, almost one hundred percent survived during the first five years.
- The follicular type of cancer is treated worse, but in this case, approximately 55% of patients survive. If the disease was diagnosed in the early stages, then all patients survive.
- With medullary cancer, about 30% of patients survive. If a disease is detected in the initial stages of recovered patients, about 98% (those who have lived after treatment for 10 years or more).
- Aplastic cancer is perhaps the worst option. After treatment, only 16% of patients live up to 10 years. This happens because the tumor grows rapidly, metastases develop actively, and atypical cells are immune to iodine.
As soon as the rehabilitation period passes, many patients need to go to work. Depending on how extensive the surgery was, disability can be prescribed for oncology of the thyroid gland. To do this, you need to go through a medical expert commission.
How to eat
Many people think that after the operation they will have to keep a strict diet. However, this is not particularly necessary. The main thing is that the menu should be very diverse. So nutrition will meet all the needs of a weakened body. People who have had such a serious illness should have a look at products that inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Scientists have long been saying that the following fruits and vegetables are useful:
1. All plant products with a yellow-red color. They have a lot of antioxidants that prevent damage to healthy cells.
- Pumpkin.
- Tomatoes
- Carrot.
- Oranges.
- Apricots
- Bell pepper.
2. All vegetables and fruits are blue and purple. They have anthocyanins that neutralize carcinogens.
- Beet.
- Blueberries
- Blackberry.
- Cherry.
- Purple onion.
3. All vegetables are green. They increase the body's defenses.
- Spinach.
- Parsley.
- Chives.
- Sorrel.
- Broccoli.
- Peas.
- Salad.
4. Products that contain a lot of ellagic acid.
- Walnuts.
- Raspberries.
- Edible chestnut.
- Wild strawberries.
- Blackberry.
5. Vegetables in which there is a lot of indole-3-carbinol. This substance has anti-cancer properties.
- Broccoli.
- Cabbage (Chinese, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage).
- Radish.
- Daikon.
- Turnip.
6. Fruits, berries and vegetables in which there are a lot of volatile.
- Lemon.
- Garlic.
- Black currant.
- Bow.
- Horseradish.
7. Dairy products.
8. Green tea.
Be sure to introduce these products into the diet. In addition, the menu should be as balanced as possible. It must necessarily contain carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Conclusion
A malignant tumor is a serious ailment. However, modern treatment methods make it possible to achieve a 100% result in treatment, and together with a positive attitude, a positive prognosis can be expected. Symptoms of thyroid oncology in women and men are weak in the first stages. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor at the slightest sign of deterioration.
Do not despair if you have a malignant neoplasm. Thyroid oncology has already been successfully treated, and the disease is quite slow.