Thyroid Cancer: Staging and Treatment
Thyroid cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland refers to a butterfly-shaped organ that is located in the neck. While most cases of thyroid cancer do have an effective prognosis, the staging of the cancer and the type of treatment play a vital role in determining the results.
This post has been created to provide readers with a better understanding of the staging and treatment of thyroid cancer. The insights used to create this comprehensive guide have been taken from the expert endocrinologists at Magna Centre, who are known for performing the best thyroid cancer treatment in Hyderabad. Before we proceed to the staging and treatment, let’s discuss the staging and treatment of thyroid cancer in detail.
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a butterfly-shaped gland that is situated at the neck’s bottom. It has two lobes, i.e., a left and right lobe. Both of these are connected by a band of tissue known as the isthmus. The thyroid makes the hormones that are responsible for controlling the metabolism. Thyroid cancer occurs when the abnormal cells in this gland grow and multiply. This type of cancer differs depending on the cells in which it forms. The thyroid gland contains two major types of cells that make different hormones. These include C cells and follicular cells.
What are the Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?
The symptoms of thyroid cancer are listed below:
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Lump in the lymph
- Severe cough
- Pain in the neck or throat
- Thyroid nodules, i.e., lumps in the thyroid gland, occurring due to abnormal growth of thyroid cells
- Change in voice.
What is the Staging of Thyroid Cancer?
Higher stages denote more advanced disease in thyroid cancer, which is normally classified from I to IV. Let’s understand the staging as below:
- Stage I: The cancer only affects the thyroid gland.
- Stage II: The cancer spreads to the nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage III: The cancer spreads to the nearby structures in the neck.
- Stage IV: The cancer spreads to distant organs such as the lungs, bones, or other areas of the body.
How is Thyroid Cancer Treated?
The treatment of thyroid cancer involves thyroidectomy, i.e., the removal of the thyroid gland. If the thyroid cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, the endocrinologist will recommend lymph node dissection. After the removal, patients will have to undergo a radioiodine scan. This scan will help in detecting if the tumor has spread to other areas of the body. If the tumor indicates a good radioiodine level, a microscopic tumor or distant-site tumor can be treated by radioiodine ablation therapy.
Other forms of chemotherapy are also available for high-grade tumors and are given based on the staging of the cancer. When the thyroid gland is removed, the level of thyroxine in the body drops. If not treated, this can cause severe hypothyroidism.
Final Takeaway
Thyroid cancer, when diagnosed timely, has a high chance of offering successful results. Staging is also considered an important step in the process because it allows the doctor to prepare a tailored treatment plan for each patient’s needs.
If one is experiencing signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer, such as lumps in the lymph, difficulty swallowing, pain in the neck, etc., one must seek medical attention right away. To get an effective treatment for thyroid cancer, one can book a consultation with the best thyroid cancer doctors and endocrinologist in Hyderabad at Magna Centre. They will recommend a few tests to confirm the presence of thyroid cancer and determine its staging.
For more information about the treatment for thyroid cancer, visit Magna Centre today!
