What is Thyroid Cancer ? Types,Signs and symptoms and Risk Factors

by Yashoda Hospital Yashoda Hospital

Cancer that develops in the cells of the thyroid is known as thyroid cancer. The thyroid is a gland that is located at the base of the neck below Adam's apple and resembles a butterfly. It releases hormones that help in regulating heart rate, body temperature, weight, and blood pressure. Thyroid cancer may not show any signs and symptoms in its initial stages but as it develops, it may cause pain and swell in the neck. Our experts at Yashoda Hospital & Yashoda Cancer Institute, Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad, are ever willing to share the information you need about thyroid cancer. We acknowledge the fact that any cancer may be a serious threat to life and knowing and making people aware of it is a motive of our Preventive Oncology Program.

Types of thyroid cancer

Classification of the types of thyroid cancer is based on the kinds of cells present in the tumor. The type of cancer will determine what kind of treatment and prognosis you may require. Thyroid cancer may be classified into the following types:

Papillary thyroid cancer- This cancer originates from follicular cells- cells producing and storing thyroid hormones, and is generally the most common type of thyroid cancer. This cancer may develop at any age but is generally found to be in persons between ages 30 to 50.

Follicular thyroid cancer- This cancer also originates from the follicular cells of the thyroid generally affecting persons older than age 50. Hurthle cell cancer is a rare type of follicular thyroid cancer that is aggressive.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer- This is a rare type of thyroid cancer that originates in the follicular cells and generally affects persons aged 60 and above. This cancer is difficult to treat and grows at a higher rate.

Medullary thyroid cancer- This cancer originates in thyroid cells, known as C-cells that produce calcitonin hormone. The higher presence of calcitonin in the blood may be helpful in indicating Medullary thyroid cancer at an early stage.

Other types of thyroid cancers include thyroid lymphoma which originates in the immune system cells of the thyroid, and thyroid sarcoma which originates in the connective tissue cells of the thyroid.

Risk Factors of thyroid cancer

There are various factors that may increase one’s chances of having thyroid cancer. Some of they include:

● Personal history of enlarged thyroid or goiter

● Family history of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease

● Persons aged between 25 to 65

● Any past exposure to radiation to the head and neck as a child or an infant or an exposure to radiation fallout

● Women are more subjected to this cancer

● Certain genetic conditions such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A Syndrome (MEN2A), Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B Syndrome (MEN2B, or Familial Medullary Thyroid Cancer (FMTC)

Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer may not show any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Doctors at Yashoda Superspeciality Hospital & Cancer Institute, Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad, always suggest consulting your doctor in case of any of the signs and symptoms that are as follows:

● Any change in voice and/or increasing hoarseness

● Presence of a nodule or lump that may be felt through the skin of the neck

● Having pain in the neck and throat

● Presence of swollen lymph nodes in the neck

● Difficulty in swallowing Diagnostic procedures for thyroid cancer The Head and