Thyroid Cancer

This type of cancer refers to cancerous cells that form in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, a butterfly shaped organ, lies in the front of the neck, under our vocal cords. This gland produces two important hormones called the Thyroid Hormone A hormone primarily responsible for regulation of metabolism. and CalcitoninA hormone which is responsible to reduce blood calcium..

These two hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. This type of cancer is more common in women who develop this cancer three times more the men do.

Thyroid Cancer Video

Types of Thyroid Cancer

There are four main types of thyroid cancer, which are properly diagnosed when looked at under a microscope.

Papillary – The most common thyroid cancer (80% of the cases) which originates in the columnar cells and grows very slowly. This type of cancer is common in women in the 30-40 year old age group.

Follicular – A less common cancer that also originates in the columnar cells and grows very slowly. This type of cancer is common in women over 50 years old.

Medullary – A cancer that originates in the C cells within the gland. Also a slow grower, this cancer can cause the production of abnormal amounts of Calcitonin.

Anaplastic – Only 2% of the thyroid cancer cases, this cancer originates in the columnar cells and grows and spreads very fast making it hard to control.

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

Thyroid cancer does not usually cause any physical symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, in later stages, these symptoms can appear for all four types of thyroid cancer:

• A lump under the skin which you can see and feel in the neck area
• Changes or problems with your voice
• Trouble swallowing
• Pain in the neck and throat
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck area

Thyroid Cancer Treatment

The specific treatment for thyroid cancer will depend on the type of cancer, the size of the tumor, the patient's age and how far did the cancer spread.

Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, hormonal treatments and treatments with radioactive Iodine-131. Most patients will receive more than one method from all of the above.

Thyroid Cancer Treatment Abroad

Once diagnosed with thyroid cancer, it is important to starts treatments immediately. A TicketMed agent will be happy to assist you in exploring all options and receiving the information you need to reach the right decision. We work with the top oncology clinics, hospitals and medical centers in the world in order for you to receive maximum results. Contact us or ask for a quote.