Thryroid cancer
By Metro Creative
Cancer affects millions of people every year across the globe and does not discriminate based on age, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. Cancer also can affect any part of the body, including the thyroid, a large, ductless gland in the neck that secretes hormones which regulate growth and development.
Thyroid cancer does not garner the same level of attention as more common forms of the disease. However, thyroid cancer is still a formidable enough threat to justify gaining a basic understanding of the disease.
What is thyroid cancer?
Cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells. When such growth begins in the thyroid, a person is diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Are instances of thyroid cancer increasing?
The Mayo Clinic notes that rates of thyroid cancer seem to be on the rise. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reports that incidence rates for thyroid cancer have continuously increased across the globe over the last three decades. That may be particularly notable for women, as the American Thyroid Association reported in a 2017 study published in the journal Clinical Thyroidology for the Public that thyroid cancer is now the fastest growing cancer in women.
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Does thyroid cancer produce symptoms?
The Mayo Clinic notes that most thyroid cancers do not produce signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. In fact, the MD Anderson Cancer Center reports that it’s possible that an individual could have thyroid cancer for months if not years without knowing it.
Though it’s important that people recognize the likelihood symptoms will not appear prior to receiving a thyroid cancer diagnosis, the MDACC notes the following are some potential warning signs to take seriously:
a lump in the front of the neck
swollen thyroid or swelling in the neck
pain in the front of the neck that may extend to the ears
hoarse voice
trouble breathing
persistent cough
problems swallowing
The MDACC urges anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or longer to visit their health care provider.
What causes thyroid cancer?
The American Cancer Society reports that it’s not always clear what causes thyroid cancer. However, researchers have identified some notable risk factors for the disease, including:
Sex: The ACS indicates thyroid cancer occurs nearly three times as often in women than in men.
Age: Thyroid cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people in their thirties and through their sixties.
Family history: Individuals with a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with thyroid cancer are at heightened risk of developing it as well.
Excessive body weight: The ACS reports that a person’s risk for thyroid cancer appears to increase as body mass index (BMI) increases.
Thyroid cancer rates appear to be on the rise, making now an ideal time to discuss the disease with a physician.
