Thyroid Cancer

Located in the neck just beneath the voice box, the thyroid is a gland with two types of cells that make hormones. Follicular cells make thyroid hormone, which regulates body temperature, heart rate, and energy levels. C cells make calcitonin hormone, which helps control calcium levels in the blood.

There are four main types of thyroid cancer:

This is the most common form of thyroid cancer. About 8 out of 10 thyroid cancers are papillary cancers. Usually, these cancers grow very slowly and develop in one lobe of the thyroid gland. However, papillary cancers often spread to the lymph nodes. Even if these cancers spread to the lymph nodes, they can be treated successfully and are rarely fatal.

Follicular cancer is the next most common type of thyroid cancer, which accounts for 1 out of 10 thyroid cancers. This type of thyroid cancer is more common in people who do not get enough iodine in their diet. Usually, these cancers do not spread to the lymph nodes; however, they can spread to other body parts, including the lungs or bones. The outlook for follicular cancer is excellent in most cases.

Anaplastic carcinoma (also called undifferentiated carcinoma) is the most advanced and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. It is a rare, making up less than 2% of thyroid cancers. This kind of thyroid cancer is common among people over the age of 60. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is called undifferentiated carcinoma because the cancer cells do not look like normal thyroid cells. Typically, this cancer spreads quickly to the neck and other parts of the body and is very hard to treat.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) accounts for about 4% of all thyroid cancers. This kind of cancer develops from the C cells of the thyroid gland, which make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the amount of calcium in the blood. This cancer can spread to lymph nodes, the lungs, or the liver before a thyroid nodule is discovered. This type of thyroid cancer is difficult to find and treat.

Facts: According to the United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations, in 2021, 1,830 Illinoisans were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In 2022, 94 people from the state died from thyroid cancer.

The exact cause of thyroid cancer is unknown. Thyroid cancer occurs more often in women than men and affects Hispanics and Asian Island Pacific Islanders more often than Whites or Blacks.

A diet lacking iodine is common in follicular thyroid cancers. Iodine is added to table salt and other foods in the United States. In combination with a diet low in iodine, exposure to radiation increases the chances of developing papillary thyroid cancer.

People who were exposed to high doses of radiation during the 1920s and 1950s as a treatment for childhood illnesses may be at an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Radioactive fallout (survivors of the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and living near nuclear weapons production plants) is another possible cause of thyroid cancer.

Most cases of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer are found in people between the ages of 20 and 60. Primarily, thyroid cancer affects younger people between the ages of 20 and 55. This is atypical since most cancer rates increase with age.

Benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancers can occur in people of all ages. The five-year survival rate for thyroid cancer is nearly 97%.

Early thyroid cancer produces no symptoms, but as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• pain in the neck or throat
• breathing problems
• hoarseness or trouble swallowing
• lump in the front of the neck below the Adam’s apple
• swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck

Consult your physician if you experience any of these symptoms. Thyroid cancer can be found early and treated successfully. Detecting a lump and making an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible assures the best way to find the cancer early.

Although radiation exposure may be a cause of thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine-131 is used to treat thyroid cancer. I-131 can be used to kill the cancerous cells in the thyroid.

There is no definite way to prevent thyroid cancer because most people with thyroid cancer have no association with the possible risk factors. Genetic testing of familial MTC can be used in families with a history. Families can be screened for the disease, and removal of the thyroid can help prevent the development of MTC.

Eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, low in animal fat, and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent many cancers.

• American Cancer Society
• American Thyroid Association
• National Cancer Institute
• Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association