The thyroid gland plays an important role in the life of our body. It secretes hormones that regulate metabolism, growth of cells, tissues, bones and organs. Therefore, any diseases affecting this organ significantly affect the quality of human life. Thyroid cancer is rare compared to other types of cancer. But you still need to know about it. If you have a swollen thyroid gland, then you should read this article.

Causes of tumor development

A tumor is a pathological growth of tissues caused by a violation of the mechanism of cell division. It can be benign and malignant. In more than 90% of cases, doctors find exactly benign formations in the thyroid gland, for example, adenoma or nodular goiter. Almost every person has such nodules and does not pose a threat to life.

Thyroid cancer is not often diagnosed. The reasons for its occurrence are not exactly known, but there is an opinion that a malignant tumor can mutate from a benign one. Factors that influence the development of thyroid cancer include:

• diseases of the endocrine system;
• iodine deficiency in the body;
• heredity;
• hormonal imbalance;
• Benign formations that can degenerate into cancer (for example , Hurtle cell tumor);
• the presence of malignant tumors of other organs that can metastasize;
• exposure to radiation and ionizing radiation.

The number of patients with various tumors in recent years has increased precisely because of the impact of the latter factor. Man-made disasters, such as the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, are the cause of the spread of radiation, which causes the cells of the body to mutate.

With age, the risk of cancer increases, so the majority of patients are elderly people. It is also worth noting that in women this disease occurs 2 times more often than in men.

How long people with this disease live depends on the type and stage of cancer. On average, it is 5-10 years.

Types of tumors

There is the following classification of the tumor:

1. Epithelial. It can be either a benign tumor (for example, an adenoma) or a malignant tumor. The latter include: papillary, follicular and anaplastic cancer.
2. Non-epithelial .
3. Mixed.

Thyroid cancer can be primary or secondary (that is, metastasized from others).

Types of cancer by morphological features:

1. Papillary thyroid cancer. It occurs most often (about 80% of all cases of the disease). It is diagnosed in people aged 30-40 years and in children. This type of cancer grows slowly and rarely metastasizes.
2. The second most common is follicular cancer (up to 20%). It is more common in men and women aged 50-60 years. Like papillary cancer, this type of cancer can be successfully treated.
3. medullary cancer. More aggressive than previous species. Such a tumor can form metastases in other organs in the early stages. Medullary cancer is practically not amenable to treatment, but it is quite rare – only in 5% of cases.
4. anaplastic cancer. This species is especially aggressive: the formation is growing rapidly and metastasizing. It is very difficult to treat, so the average life expectancy is 1 year.

Symptoms and consequences of a thyroid tumor

It is quite difficult to determine the tumor at the initial stage, since most often it does not manifest itself. The very first sign is a small nodule in the thyroid gland. But in most cases, this formation is benign. In this case, the tumor grows very slowly, and practically does not affect the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Cancer is characterized by the following symptoms:

• rapid increase in neoplasm;
• the presence of dense nodes in the thyroid gland (in benign forms, they have a soft structure);
• swollen lymph nodes in the neck;
• pain in the area of tumor development;
• voice change (appears as a result of pressure on the vocal cords);
• discomfort during swallowing, “lump” in the throat;
• cough;
• general weakness and loss of appetite;
• shortness of breath.

In the later stages, when the tumor reaches a large size, there is a risk of developing hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In rare cases, thyroid cancer can metastasize to other organs, such as the lungs, liver, and even the brain.

The main danger is that this form of cancer, like the rest, can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to diagnose it in time and start therapy.

Stages of the disease

There are 4 stages of thyroid cancer:

1. In the second stage, one or more tumors double in size. The thyroid gland may begin to deform, regional metastases appear, but the capsule remains intact. Symptoms include discomfort and pain. Treatment at this stage gives a positive result in 95% of cases.
2. Solitary small tumor located inside the thyroid gland. The diameter of the formation is up to 2 cm, so that it can already be felt. Symptoms at this stage may be absent, the thyroid gland is not changed.
3. At the third stage of cancer, the size of the tumor exceeds 4 cm. It extends beyond the capsule of the thyroid gland and begins to compress the larynx and esophagus, breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath appears. There is a high probability of voice changes and inflammation of the lymph nodes.
4. The tumor continues to grow, affects neighboring tissues, and distant metastases appear. Symptoms become pronounced, the patient’s condition worsens. There is weakness, loss of appetite and a sharp decrease in weight, elevated body temperature. At the last stage, treatment is almost impossible.

The stage of cancer depends on which method of therapy will be used. Of course, the sooner it is discovered, the better.

Treatment Methods

The most common treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery. The essence of the operation is the complete or partial removal of this organ, as well as, in the presence of metastases, neighboring tissues or lymph nodes. This method is called a thyroidectomy . Depending on the specific case, the patient may be assigned one of three options:

1. Hemithyroidectomy is the most sparing method in which only one lobe of the thyroid gland is removed. Such treatment is possible at the initial stage of cancer.
2. Total thyroidectomy is the complete removal of the thyroid gland. After such an operation, a person needs constant hormone replacement therapy.
3. Subtotal thyroidectomy is the removal of almost the entire thyroid gland, with the exception of a healthy area.

It is important to choose a good specialist who can adequately assess the situation, make the right choice and conduct a successful operation.

In addition to radical, there are conservative methods of fighting cancer. They are used when the tumor is inoperable.

1. X-ray therapy. It is performed for anaplastic cancer and lymphomas, as they are sensitive to radiation.
2. Chemotherapy has a depressing effect on tumor cells. Often this method is used before surgery and together with radiotherapy.
3. Radioactive iodine treatment is used for papillary and follicular cancer to destroy remaining cells and metastases.

Often doctors use a surgical method in combination with conservative ones. This ensures maximum effectiveness of therapy.

Cancer cannot be completely cured. Any method will give only a temporary effect, and after a while the tumor reappears. Therefore, the life expectancy of patients is from 5 to 10 years, and throughout all these years it is necessary to undergo treatment and take pills.

To prevent this disease, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of iodine in the body (use foods containing iodine), avoid x-rays, and most importantly, consult a doctor in a timely manner.