Thyroid Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 20,000 new cases of thyroid cancer in the United States in 2002. About 75% of the victims will be women.
Rare and usually slow growing, thyroid cancer is likely to be noticed first during an annual physical when a physician examines the neck for thyroid nodules. Though often symptomless at its early stage, later symptoms can include feeling a lump in the front of the throat, hoarseness or difficulty speaking, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty swallowing or breathing and pain in the throat or neck.
Risk factors include:
• A family history of thyroid cancer
• Female gender
• Age - the majority of cases occur in those over 40
• Prior exposure of the thyroid gland to radiation
The cancer is usually slow growing and 80-90% of all thyroid cancers can be treated successfully if caught early. Treatments include surgery to remove the cancer or all of the thyroid gland, radioactive iodine treatment, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
While most thyroid cancer can be cured, the rate of recurrence can be up to 30% so it is important for patients to get regular physicals and thyroid examinations throughout their lives.
