About the thyroid

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat. It has two wings, or lobes, one right and one left. These are connected in the middle. The thyroid gland makes, stores, and releases thyroid hormones (called T3 and T4) that affect almost every cell in your body and help regulate your metabolism.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a cancerous tumor or growth in the thyroid gland. Normally, the replacement of old thyroid cells by newly produced cells is constant and regulated. In some cases, certain cells become abnormal and do not follow the regular cycle of growth. When these abnormal cells continue to grow and reproduce in an uncontrolled way, they form a tumor.

There are four main types of thyroid cancer:

Papillary and follicular types are the most common thyroid cancers, accounting for 90% of thyroid tumors. These are often referred to as “differentiated” or “well-differentiated”, because they resemble and act like regular thyroid cells.

Thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men, with almost three times as many women as men diagnosed. The average age at diagnosis is 45 years old. The chances of recovery depend on what kind of thyroid cancer you have, where it’s located (is it just in the thyroid, or has it spread?), and your age and overall health.

Generally, the prognosis for patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer is good. Even after successful therapy, however, it is possible for thyroid cancer to return, sometimes decades after initial therapy. This means that it’s important to keep getting routine checkups as recommended by your doctor. Generally, the earlier you catch a recurrence, the better the chances are for successful treatment.

Diagnosing thyroid cancer

There are several reasons why you or your doctor might suspect thyroid cancer. One of the most common is finding a thyroid nodule, either on your own or in a checkup. A nodule is a lump that you may feel near the base of your throat. Nodules are not uncommon, however only about 5% are cancerous.

One of the most common ways to confirm whether the nodule is cancerous is to perform a fine needle aspiration biopsy. During this procedure, a small needle is inserted through the skin into the thyroid nodule, where it draws out a sample of the material inside the nodule. This sample is then examined under a microscope. These biopsies are generally quick and safe, and they don’t usually cause much discomfort.

Causes of thyroid cancer

Often, scientists cannot pinpoint the exact cause of thyroid cancer in a particular patient. Although thyroid cancer can occur in anyone, there are a few factors that have been associated with a higher risk of thyroid cancer. These include: