Question 1

what is thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Often curable cancer: The thyroid gland is in the lower neck and makes essential hormones. Cancers of the thyroid gland are of multiple types; the most common is of the pappliary subtype. Often surgery is the first step of treatment followed by treatment with trace amounts of radioactive iodine which destroys any remaining cancer. In most cases survival and cure rates are very good.

Question 2

how is thyroid cancer treated?

Accepted Answer

Surgery: Surgery is the best way to treat thyroid cancer.  Radioactive iodine and some drugs also treat thyroid cancer but these are typically done after surgery.

Question 3

how is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Examination: Suspicion for a thyroid cancer is often discovered by a physical examination, first discovered by a patient and then verified by a doctor.  A biopsy is needed which can confirm the diagnosis.

Question 4

can you die from thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid cancer: Patient may die of thyroid cancer  if it spread to the lymph nodes and other organs.

Question 5

who usually gets thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Anyone: Anyone can get thyroid cancer.  Your risk is higher if you have a family history of thyroid cancer or if you were exposed to excess radiation to the neck when you were younger.

Question 6

what is anaplastic thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Aggressive: Be sure the diagnosis is made by at least two pathologists who agree.  Anaplastic thyroid cancer / carcinoma is an aggressive disease with no known risk factors (except perhaps a tiny pre-existing low-grade tumor too small to feel).  It seems to strike adults at random and is not one of those cancers that are easy to treat.

Question 7

how fast does thyroid cancer grow?

Accepted Answer

Usually Slow.: It depends on the type of thyroid cancer but the most common type, papillary thyroid cancer, usually grows and spreads slowly.  There is another very rare type, anaplastic thyroid cancer that grows very fast and is usually lethal.

Question 8

what are symptoms of thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

A painless lump: Most people with thyroid cancer do not have symptoms - they have a painless lump in the thyroid (we call it a nodule).  Sometimes (especially younger patients) can have a palpable lymph node as the first sign.  Rarely, very aggressive cancers can become large and cause symptoms of breathing obstruction.

Question 9

what is the cause of thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid cancer: The Mayo Clinic  "www.mayoclinic.com" begins with the statement

"It's not clear what causes thyroid cancer".

That said, it is worth reading the on-line information.

Question 10

what are the types of thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Generally 4 types: There are 4 types of thyroid cancer.  1)papillary (most common), 2)follicular and hurthle cells, 3)medullary and 4)anaplastic (least common and most aggressive).  Lymphoma and metastatic disease from other cancer (renal cell, melanoma) can also go to the thyroid.

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