Thyroid Cancer: Understanding the treatments available

Being diagnosed with a malignancy like thyroid cancer can leave anyone overwhelmed, however, thanks to the innovations and advancements in Cancer Care, a lot of people can now, beat their malignancy with timely medical intervention. Reading this blog will help you understand all about thyroid cancer and the various treatment options that are available for it. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know. 

What is Thyroid Cancer? 

Thyroid cancer is a type of malignancy that is 3 times more likely to affect women as compared to men. The malignancy starts from the cells of the thyroid gland, the small gland located at the front of your neck, shaped somewhat like a butterfly. Contrary to its small size, our thyroid gland performs various major tasks in our body by regulating the production of important hormones that play a vital role in controlling our growth, development, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and metabolism. Thyroid cancer cannot only affect the ability of the thyroid gland to function optimally, but it can also spread to other parts of the body, giving rise to potentially life-threatening complications. 

Getting Familiar with Types of Thyroid Cancer

Experts have broadly classified thyroid cancer into four different types. These are:

• Papillary Thyroid Cancer: It is the most common type and accounts for nearly 80% of all cases of thyroid cancer. Fortunately, it is not very aggressive and grows at a slow pace, making it possible to treat the cancer with good outcomes. 
• Follicular Thyroid Cancer: This happens to be the second most common type and is often referred to as follicular thyroid carcinoma. If someone has this cancer it is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes and blood vessels. 
• Medullary Cancer: It is quite uncommon and accounts for merely 4% of all cases of thyroid cancer. People with this cancer are likely to have the hormone calcitonin in their blood. This makes it easier to detect the cancer at an early stage. 
• Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: It is the most dangerous type of cancer as it spreads very aggressively and can metastasize to different parts of the body. However, this is extremely rare. 

Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

It is quite possible that some patients with the malignancy may be completely asymptomatic initially. The symptoms tend to develop slowly and gradually as the cancer keeps on progressing. Here are some common symptoms that you need to watch out for:

• An unusual lump or nodule in the neck
• Vocal changes, such as Hoarseness in voice
• Problems with swallowing, such as experiencing discomfort while swallowing food. 
• Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck

If you are having any of these symptoms it does not necessarily mean that you have thyroid cancer however, it is always better to be on the safer side and get yourself evaluated as, when diagnosed and treated early, the cancer is easier to manage. 

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

Wondering what causes thyroid cancer? Well, just like other cancers, thyroid cancer, too, is caused by DNA mutations, brought about by different factors, that compel the cells to grow and multiply uncontrollably. These mutated cells tend to live longer than the normal ones and stay in the body while the latter die. Gradually they start replacing the healthier cells leading to the dysfunction of the thyroid gland and gradually spreading to other areas of the body as well. These cells can accumulate, leading to the formation of a cancerous lump, that we commonly call a tumor. 
Here are some factors that can increase the risks of mutations associated with thyroid cancer:

• Being a female as the cancer is more common in women
• Being exposed to intense radiation
• Having certain inherited genetic conditions

Can Thyroid Cancer be Treated?

In the majority of cases, even if not diagnosed early, thyroid cancer can be treated effectively, with high chances of full recovery. So, if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with it, you need to see an expert and explore the treatments available. Being diagnosed with any cancer is not easy but there are high chances that seeking the right care and treatment might ease your journey. 

Exploring the Treatments Available

By now you must have understood that thyroid cancer must be treated now it's time to learn about the different treatment modalities available, and how these work:

Surgery:

In the majority of cases, surgery is the primary treatment, no matter what type or stage of thyroid cancer you have. The most common surgical procedures include:

• Lobectomy: During this procedure, doctors remove only the affected lobe of the thyroid gland while leaving the other one intact. The isthmus, which connects the two lobes, may also be removed. This surgery is preferred as the patient needs not to take any hormonal pills since one lobe is still there. 
• Thyroidectomy: During the surgical procedures doctors remove all of the thyroid gland. It happens to be the most common surgical intervention recommended for thyroid cancer. If the doctors are able to remove all of the thyroid glands, the procedure is referred to as total thyroidectomy and if they are unable to remove a little portion of it, the procedure is known as near-total thyroidectomy. 
• Removing lymph nodes: Doctors may remove the lymph nodes surrounding the thyroid gland in cases where cancer has spread to these. This is generally needed for people who have been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer or anaplastic cancer. 

Radioiodine Therapy:

Also known as radioactive iodine therapy (RAI), the treatment works on the principle that the thyroid gland absorbs most of the iodine in our body. RAI is easily taken in by the thyroid gland, after which it starts attacking the cells. The treatment is generally recommended with the aim of destroying any thyroid tissue that had been left behind during thyroidectomy, i.e. In the case of near-total thyroidectomy. The therapy may either be given orally in the form of hormonal pills or injected into the body. 

Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy is broadly classified into two types: internal beam Radiation therapy and external beam Radiation therapy. In the case of thyroid cancer, the latter is used. The technique uses high-intensity radiation beams to target the cancerous cells with added precision. If you have been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer or plastic thyroid cancer, you are more likely to be recommended to go for this. Radiation therapy might work for patients who are not responding to Radioiodine therapy. It is also helpful in case of recurrence or if the cancer has metastasized. 

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy therapy involves the use of various drugs, given in a particular combination, to target and destroy cancerous cells and tissues. The drugs can be given to the patient in different ways. While some need to be taken orally, others are injected into the body or given using an IV drip. In this case, however, the impact of the treatment is not localized and it may affect the healthier tissues as well. 

Targeted Therapy:

As the name clearly suggests, it offers a more targeted approach. In this case, too, doctors use certain drugs, however, they work in a very different way. To manage thyroid cancer, doctors use a special type of drug commonly referred to as kinase inhibitors. Target therapy not only helps to curb the formation of new blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor, but also destroys certain proteins that are needed by the tumor to sustain. In the case of targeted therapy, the medication is to be taken orally. 

The type of treatment recommended for each patient varies depending on the specific type of cancer. Consult the experts from Surya Hospitals, to get a personalized treatment plan curated to meet your individual needs and beat cancer with ease.