Thyroid cancer - symptoms in women: signs at different stages and how long they live after surgery

Thyroid oncology refers to a malignant formation in the form of nodes that develops from the epithelial cells of the organ.

There are several types of tumor:

Papillary cancer.
Follicular form.
Medullary form.
Anaplastic cancer.
Lymphoma.
Metastatic lesions.

Thyroid cancer is not one of the most common forms; on average, this type of cancer accounts for about 1% of all types of various organs. Most often it affects women, as well as people over 40 years of age. Moreover, with each decade the risk of its development increases by several percent.

Causes

The table shows the main diseases (pathogenic conditions) accompanying thyroid cancer and (or) preceding its occurrence.

Disease (pathogenic condition)	Brief Explanation
Hormonal disorders	Hormonal dysfunction is the most common cause of thyroid cancer; women suffering from diabetes and obesity are at particular risk (this disease is diagnosed and treated by an endocrinologist).
early appearance of the first menstruation in girls; the onset of menopause is much later than usual.	Both conditions indicate deviations from the norm in reproductive indicators. Meanwhile, it is a failure in this system that can provoke the onset of pathology.
The presence of thyroid diseases (hyperplasia, adenoma, nodular goiter).	In 85 out of 100 cases, pathology is detected against the background of concomitant diseases.
Bad heredity.	Statistics show that over 20% of registered cases of thyroid cancer are due to genetic predisposition.

The maximum risk of cancer is associated with radiation. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant showed that malignant tumors in the thyroid gland appear four years after irradiation.

Among other unfavorable external factors, we note iodine deficiency and exposure to carcinogenic substances entering the body with food, water or air.

Causes of thyroid cancer

In women, the trigger for oncology is the presence of diseases of the reproductive system,

especially if they are associated with hormonal problems:

breast tumors – benign and malignant;
ovarian tumors, especially chronic ones, resulting from a lack of sex hormones;
thyroid adenoma;
hormone-dependent neoplasms – fibroids, polyps.

If we consider that during menopause many women experience constipation, then the causes of

Thyroid tumors can add problems with the large intestine and rectum:

the presence of fecal stones, which most people are unaware of and do not take any measures to cleanse and restore normal bowel function;
hemorrhoids
, which indicates poor blood condition and poor circulation in the large intestine.

Experts have not yet fully determined the exact causes of thyroid cancer, but symptoms in women indicate a great influence of lifestyle and nutrition on the development of the pathological process.

Common reasons

which are typical for both men and women are:

living in places of intense radioactive radiation and accumulation of heavy metals in the body;
treatment with radiation therapy;
professional activities related to heavy metals;
genetic predisposition (family cases in the past) – rare;
low immunity due to bad habits or diseases;
thyroid diseases
associated with excessive release of hormones into the blood - nodular goiter.

Important!

An imbalance of hormones - deficiency or excess - provokes the development of tumors that cause cancerous degeneration of cells.

Symptoms in women

The specificity of the disease is a high percentage of diagnostic errors. This is caused by the absence of pronounced symptoms of thyroid cancer in women in the early stages.

Detection of the disease is even more complicated due to the presence of background ailments (goiter, thyroiditis): in these situations, doctors lose their sense of oncological alertness and pay attention only to concomitant pathology.

Meanwhile, the fact of the presence of a tumor (even if it is less than a centimeter) is easily established by ultrasound.

Signs that should motivate you to visit an ultrasound room:

the feeling that the collar of clothes has become narrower;
the presence of a “lump” in the throat;
discomfort accompanying swallowing food;
tightness in the neck (see photo);
change in voice sound;
shortness of breath, worsening with neck movement.

If the presence of a tumor is confirmed, a small amount of material is removed from the thyroid gland using a needle and syringe for examination. In a laboratory setting, specialists make a verdict on the category of neoplasm (benign/malignant).

Treatment

The choice of treatment tactics for the disease depends on the type of pathology, its stage and the presence of metastases.

Treatment for thyroid carcinoma consists of a combination of several treatment methods, including:

surgical intervention;
chemotherapy treatment;
targeted therapy;
radiation therapy;
RNT - radionuclide therapy;
treatment with hormonal drugs.

Initial treatment for thyroid carcinoma often involves surgery, during which the part of the organ affected by the tumor is removed. Depending on the general indications and stage of the disease, the following types of surgical intervention can be performed:

single lobar excision of the gland (partial thyroidectomy) If the tumor is very insignificant, then one lobe of the gland with the isthmus is removed (hemithyroidectomy);
removal of two lobes of the organ (total thyroidectomy).

After surgery, parts of the thyroid gland are burned with radioactive iodine. The course of therapy is 4-5 weeks.

Typically, a malignant tumor responds well to treatment, especially when there are no metastases. If the tumor is inoperable, treatment is aimed at maximizing the destruction of tumor cells and stopping their further development.

Patients with advanced forms of pathology are given palliative treatment, which is aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the disease and improving the quality of life.

Drug treatment involves the use of the following drugs that selectively destroy tumor cells:

Cabozantinib (Kometrik), Vandetanib (Caprelsa). They are used for medullary cancer. These drugs suppress tumor growth. They are used for at least six months;
Sunitinib, Pazopanib (Votrient), Sorafenib (Nexavar) can be prescribed for follicular and papillary tumors. Although these forms of cancer are more often treated with surgical methods and using radioactive iodine, the use of these antitumor drugs is sometimes justified.

Iodine therapy is used in the treatment of papillary and follicular carcinomas. Upon entering the body, iodine-131 is completely absorbed by the thyroid cells, which are destroyed in the process. In addition, radiation effectively fights metastases.

Video on the topic:

Radiation therapy is not used to treat papillary or follicular formations, since they are amenable to radionuclide therapy. This method is used to treat anaplastic cancer. With diffuse spread of the tumor, irradiation helps to avoid relapses after surgery and reduce the risk of developing metastases. The course of therapy is several weeks. The dosage of radiation is prescribed for each patient individually.

Postoperative therapy

After the operation, a month later, patients are given radionuclide therapy with Iodine-131 to reduce the risk of suspected secondary lesions.

Hormone therapy is prescribed for total removal of the thyroid gland. Such patients should take thyroid steroids for the rest of their lives.

Suppressive postoperative therapy with Levothyroxine is required to reduce the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland, which stimulates the gland.

After the operation, the use of vitamin and mineral supplements is also prescribed, which are required for the rapid resumption of organ function.

6 months after excision of the tumor, the patient is examined again: an examination is performed and an ultrasound is prescribed. After a year, and then after three, the doctor is examined again and tested for tumor markers and hormones.

Diet for thyroid carcinoma

There is no need to follow a special diet after excision of a tumor. General nutritional recommendations are:

The diet should be enriched with vitamins.
Include the following vegetables and herbs in the menu: radishes, green peas, cabbage, carrots, parsley, parsnips, radishes, celery, berries; it is good to drink green tea.
The diet must include:
protein foods: dietary meat, lean fish, cheese, cottage cheese;
foods rich in simple and complex carbohydrates: bran and grain bread, fruits, juices, honey, various cereals, vegetables;
iodine-rich foods (seafood, soy products, eggs). But during radionuclide therapy they are excluded from the menu;
fats in the form of vegetable oils.

Symptoms in men

The clinical picture of thyroid cancer is similar in men and women. There are not many symptoms, the picture of this disease is not specific. In the initial stages, the patient may experience a feeling of discomfort when swallowing and suffocation, and may experience coughing and hoarseness. Not every person with carcinoma is familiar with these symptoms. The neck may be enlarged and immobile due to the large volume of the gland; sometimes it is possible to palpate carcinoid nodes. When metastases are already moving throughout the body, the lymph nodes become enlarged, and pain and dysfunction occur in the affected organs.

Symptoms

The disease can manifest itself with various symptoms. They depend on the stage, extent of the tumor process and complications that have developed. Small tumors of the thyroid gland are usually not accompanied by clinical symptoms and are detected incidentally during ultrasound examination. The first reason for visiting a doctor may be an enlargement of one cervical lymph node, which upon further examination turns out to be a metastasis of thyroid cancer.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer are often similar to the symptoms of colds, sore throats, and infectious diseases:

Swelling in the neck. Small nodules in the neck can only be identified by a doctor, but sometimes swelling can be noticed during swallowing.
Enlarged cervical lymph nodes. However, this symptom often accompanies a cold or sore throat and is not associated with a malignant process.
Changing the timbre of the voice. Sometimes a large thyroid nodule puts pressure on the larynx, which can cause hoarseness.
Dyspnea. The reason may be that the enlarged thyroid gland causes a narrowing of the tracheal lumen.
Difficulty swallowing. Also, a thyroid nodule can put pressure on the esophagus.
Pain in the neck or throat. The development of thyroid cancer rarely causes pain, but when combined with other symptoms, it is a signal to see a doctor immediately.

Most of these symptoms are associated with the appearance of a thyroid nodule, which in more than 95% of cases turns out to be benign. Thyroid nodules are quite common, and the risk of their occurrence increases in old age. If nodules are found in the thyroid gland, you should consult a doctor.

Types of tumors and stages of the disease

Based on the degree of development of malignant cells, cancer is divided into the following types:

Papillary is the most common type of cancer. It is usually located in one lobe and consists of follicular cells. It is characterized by slow growth and a good response to treatment. Its peculiarity is possible contact with lymphatic vessels and nodes.
Follicular - also highly differentiated, non-aggressive and formed from follicular cells. It ranks second in frequency of occurrence. Spread is possible when it grows into blood vessels, so follicular cancer metastases are located in distant organs.
Medullary carcinoma is composed of C cells that are capable of producing calcitonin. C-cell metabolism is not associated with iodine, therefore, in the case of a medullary tumor, treatment with iodine isotopes is not advisable. In origin it can be sporadic or hereditary. Often metastasizes to lymph nodes. This is a particularly severe form of the disease, in which the number of tumor cells exceeds the number of connective tissue cells.
Anaplastic carcinoma - characterized by rapid development and metastasis, practically untreated (it is rare, in 1% of cases). In any form, it automatically refers to stage 4 cancer.

Papillary cancer predominates in women living in areas with high iodine content. In areas characterized by a deficiency of this substance, the follicular form of the disease is more often observed.

Among the factors stimulating the occurrence of pathology, a special role is played by the “aggressive behavior” of female sex hormones, which is why women become victims of this disease 3 times more often than men.

To describe the pathology, a special classification is used, characterizing the tumor with three Latin letters TNM, where:

T – description of the malignant formation (size, presence/absence of germination into adjacent tissues);
N – presence of metastases in lymph nodes;
M – process of metastasis in distant organs.

The letters are assigned an index indicating the state of the pathology. The correspondence of letters and indices is shown in the table.

Symbols of RShchZ	Explanation of symbols
T0	Primary education is not determined
T1	Up to 20 mm, the tumor is localized only in the organ tissue
T2	Formation 20 – 40 mm, does not extend beyond the thyroid tissue
T3	More than 40 mm, does not extend beyond the gland tissue
T4a	Size – any, growth into nearby tissues outside the organ is recorded
Т4b	Invasion into the carotid artery, vessels, and prevertebral fascia is recorded
N0	There are no metastases in the lymph nodes
N1a	Metastases were recorded in prethyroid, pretracheal, paratracheal lymph nodes
N1b	Distant lymph nodes are affected (mediastinal, submandibular, jugular, supraclavicular)
M0	There are no metastases in distant organs
M1	Distant metastases recorded

A complete assessment of the process is given by the combination of the indicated letters and indices. This is how the stage of the disease is determined. For women under the age of 45, some standards apply; after this age, others apply.

For medullary cancer, the staging classification is slightly different.

The explanation of the designations is given in the table.

Stage	Age up to 45 years	Age over 45 years	Medullary cancer
I	T (any), N (any), M0	Т1N0М0	T1N0M0
II	T (any), N (any), M1	T2 N0M0	T2–3N0M0
III	T3 N0M0; Т1-3N1аМ0	Т1–3N1aM0
IVа	T4a N0-1aM0; Т1-4аN1bМ0	T4aN0–1aM0, T1–4aN1bM0
IVb	T4b, N(any), M0	T4b, N (any), M0
IVc	T(any), N(any), M1	T(any), N(any), M1

If medullary cancer is suspected, a blood test is performed for thyrocalcitonin, a hormone produced by the affected cells. It will be exceeded several times (Normal - 0-11.5 pg/ml). Adygea and the Altai Territory are considered the most dangerous for the development of thyroid cancer in the Russian Federation; it is there that the lack of iodine is most pronounced. If we consider radiation as a risk factor, then these are, first of all, areas exposed to radiation after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Victoria Druzhikina

Neurologist, Therapist

Classification of thyroid cancer

The following are the main types of thyroid cancer:

Papillary cancer (carcinoma) of the thyroid gland. It occurs most often (in approximately 70% of cases). This type of cancer received this name because a microscopic examination of the tumor revealed multiple papillary projections. The tumor usually occurs in only one lobe and develops rather slowly. However, this type of cancer can metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes. The prognosis is relatively favorable. With timely treatment, patients live 25 years or more. The chances of recovery are significantly worsened by cancer metastasis, large (more than four centimeters) tumor size, age younger than 25 and older than 50 years.
Anaplastic cancer. It is quite rare, the tumor grows quickly, affects the cervical lymph nodes and gives distant metastases. The prognosis for this form of cancer is unfavorable. The disease usually develops in old age, against the background of long-term nodular goiter. During the rapid growth of the tumor, the patient experiences problems with breathing, swallowing, possible loss of voice, and attacks of suffocation. Death occurs quickly, within a year.
Follicular thyroid cancer. Occurs in approximately 7-10% of cases. One of the reasons for its development is iodine deficiency. Most often, the tumor does not extend beyond the thyroid gland; metastases to the lungs, bones and nearby lymph nodes are rare. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable, most patients recover.
Medullary thyroid cancer. Occurs in approximately 5% of cases. This is a moderately differentiated form of oncology. The course of the disease is aggressive, with the early appearance of metastases.
Lymphoma of the thyroid gland. This type of cancer develops independently or is a complication of autoimmune thyroiditis. The tumor develops from lymphocytes. Clinically, it is manifested by a rapid increase in the size of the thyroid gland, inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes, and compression of the mediastinum. Metastases are rare, and the tumor responds well to radiation therapy.

Metastasis

Tumor cells that travel through blood vessels to other organs are called metastases; in thyroid cancer, the process of cell spread depends on the type of cancer.

View	How does it metastasize?
Papillary	Metastases can be found in the lymph nodes and organs of the neck. Sometimes distant metastasis occurs (to lung tissue, bones).
Follicular	As the blood flows, cancer cells travel to the lungs, brain, liver and bones. There are no metastases in the lymphatic system.
Medullary	Metastasizes through the blood and lymph. During tumor development, lymphogenous metastases first appear.
Anaplastic	It actively spreads, growing into neighboring organs and penetrating all vessels.

Classification

There are several classifications.

Histological classification of thyroid tumors

Papillary cancer. Accounts for approximately 80% of all thyroid tumors. Prognostically the most favorable, grows slowly, responds well to treatment.
Follicular cancer. This form accounts for about ten percent. It is more dangerous than the previous one, but in most cases it is possible to achieve complete recovery.
Medullary cancer. Occupies five to six percent of the structure of thyroid tumors. The prognosis is quite unfavorable, since the disease is detected quite late.
Anaplastic undifferentiated cancer. One of the rarest species. The prognosis is extremely unfavorable, since it is detected only in the later stages, when it is practically impossible to help the patient.

International clinical classification of thyroid cancer TNM

It should be noted that this classification is used not only in relation to thyroid tumors, but in relation to neoplasms in general.

T - primary tumor

The size and extent of the tumor are taken into account. Numbers from 1 to 4 are used for explanation. The larger the size and the further the tumor extends beyond the thyroid capsule, the worse the prognosis.

N - regional lymph nodes

Cervical nodes and nodes of the upper mediastinum are considered. The increase or absence of changes in the lymph nodes is taken into account. If the nodes are enlarged, then this is a more unfavorable prognostic condition.

M - distant metastases

Indicates the presence or absence of metastases in other organs. The presence of metastases indicates the transition of the disease to the final stage.

Classification depending on the stage of the disease

Stage 1: the neoplasm is clearly localized, the capsule is not changed, there are no metastases.
Stage 2A: capsule deformation occurs, but there are no metastases.
Stage 2B: There are enlarged lymph nodes on one side.
Stage 3: the lymph nodes are enlarged on both sides, the tumor extends beyond the capsule.
Stage 4: germination into neighboring organs and/or metastases to other organs and systems.

Prognosis for different types of cancer

Before determining prognoses and finding out how long people live after surgery for thyroid cancer, a specialist needs to clarify and laboratory confirm the presence of specific cells. This is important, since the prognosis after surgery is radically different for different types of tumor.

If follicular and papillary thyroid cancer are diagnosed at the beginning of their development, the prognosis after surgery is quite favorable; if all recommendations are followed, the life of the operated person is not in danger.

With medullary cancer, the survival rate decreases over the years; 20 years after surgery, according to some data, half of people survive. Anaplastic thyroid cancer has a high mortality rate and an extremely poor prognosis - many people live no more than five years after detection of carcinoma.

Doctor's advice

Chemotherapy does not mean hair loss for the rest of your life. After the last session, the hair begins to recover, growing 15-20 cm in the first year. With high doses of drugs, the growth process may begin 2-4 weeks later, but it still starts.

Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist

When making a survival forecast, doctors use the concepts of “5 years” and “10 years”; it is not customary to track longer periods. For all stages of thyroid cancer, the prognosis in this regard is favorable. The exception is the stage where metastasis to distant organs is noted (Art. II in women under 45 years of age, and Art. IVc for women over this age).

Diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Diagnostics are carried out in order to determine whether a person really has a tumor, and if so, what type, size and how likely it is to progress.

Several types of research are used for this:

general blood test and its biochemistry;
EGFR - epidermal growth factor is determined;
BRAF gene - normally there should not be such a gene, and if there is, a papillary tumor is present;
antithyroid antibodies in blood serum;
thyroglobulin and calcitonin levels;
RET proto-oncogene mutations indicate the development of medullary cancer.

The level of thyroid hormones is also measured:

thyroid-stimulating hormone;
parathyroid hormone;
triiodothyronine;
thyroxine.

Treatment of cancer tumors depends on the stage of development of the tumor process. The most common treatment for cancer is surgery and chemotherapy.

Diagnostics

The first diagnostic method is examination and palpation of the gland. Adenocarcinoma may be palpable, especially if the lesions contain calcifications. The surface and density of the thyroid gland, mobility relative to other organs are also assessed. The lymph nodes are examined to see if they are enlarged. Ultrasound examination is the most important and primary method for visualizing the structure of the thyroid gland. The ultrasound doctor describes the volume of the lobes, the characteristics of blood flow, the growth of blood vessels, the presence of nodular formations with their boundaries, and so on.

Ultrasound-guided node biopsy allows microscopic identification of cancer cells and differentiation of their origin. An important point when performing a biopsy is that you cannot get the needle into the vessel, since in this case the result is uninformative.

If there is a nodule in the gland, but it is not known whether it is malignant or not, scintigraphy can be used. This method can also be used to estimate the prevalence of the process. It involves the introduction of an iodine isotope and its absorption by the gland. According to the degree of iodine absorption, “hot” or “cold” nodes are distinguished. In addition to instrumental methods, laboratory tests, including thyroid hormones, calcitonin, and thyroglobulin, are useful for diagnosis.

How to avoid thyroid cancer?

Unfortunately, there is no talk of a complete cure for cancer of the endocrine system. However, with a high degree of probability, it is possible to minimize the number of cancer diseases. To do this, you must comply with a number of conditions for a healthy lifestyle. First of all, a person suffering from any type of endocrine system disorder should monitor his weight and adhere to proper nutrition.

The dietary recommendations given by the attending physician must be followed in full compliance. Minimum fats and carbohydrates, and more foods containing iodine and fiber. It would also be useful to remind you about replenishing the protective functions of the immune system. An active lifestyle will help strengthen this vital indicator. Walking in the fresh air, active swimming, simple physical exercises - all this will help strengthen the immune system.

Among all methods of prevention, constant monitoring by medical personnel will be the most significant. You should consult an endocrinologist in a timely manner, and, having received his recommendations, strictly follow them.

Take care of yourself and always be healthy!

Treatment at different stages

Treatment of pathology occurs in 2 stages:

performing surgery;
choice of therapy for the postoperative period.

Depending on the structure of the tumor, its location and the advanced stage of the process, several types of operations are distinguished. Information on them is displayed in the table.

Operation designation	Brief explanations
Tumor enucleation	The most gentle operation, during which the tumor is removed without disturbing the surrounding tissue.
Hemithyroidectomy	The intervention is carried out only in the initial stages of the disease (if the malignant tumor has affected only one lobe of the gland, it is cut out, preserving the second).
Isthmusectomy	An organ-preserving operation in which only the isthmus of the gland is removed if the malignancy is localized there.
Extirpation of the thyroid gland	After removing the tumor, the thyroid gland is also removed.
Cervical lymph node dissection	In addition to removing the malignant tumor, the lymph nodes of the neck are removed.

For anaplastic, papillary and medullary cancer, extrafascial total thyroidectomy is performed in all cases.

The operation to remove the tumor is performed at an oncology clinic.

Depending on the patient’s age, general health, and the presence/absence of metastases, the doctor prescribes individual treatment.

Most often it includes the following activities:

radiation therapy and radioiodine therapy;
hormone therapy;
chemotherapy (usually prescribed for bone metastases and anaplastic cancer);
taking nonsteroidal and painkillers (in severe cases, narcotics).

For many women, some of the mentioned symptoms of thyroid cancer are just a sign of excessive impressionability and emotionality. Well, if so. But it will be even better if you do not ignore the alarm signals sent by the body. Remember that a favorable outcome of treatment for thyroid cancer depends 90% on timely detection of the pathology.

How long do you live after surgery?

How long you live after surgery to remove the thyroid gland depends on several factors

at what stage the disease was diagnosed;
patient's age;
type of oncology;
opportunities to use the latest treatment methods.

Treatment of thyroid cancer with a conservative method does not provide confidence in the usefulness of the measures taken.

Important!

Relapses can be more dangerous than the initial condition, therefore, in case of oncology, the iron is removed along with the lymph nodes.

Only in this case can we guarantee at least 5 years of life for non-aggressive forms of oncology, subject to hormonal support of the body and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Surgery for thyroid cancer

When carcinoma is confirmed, the surgeon removes all or part of the gland, possibly along with lymph nodes. Operation stages:

preoperative period;
full examination;
achieving euthyroidism;
psychological preparation, informed consent and risk warning;
general anesthesia;
preparing the surgical area and performing a Kocher collar incision;
thyroidectomy;
dissection of skin and muscles;
coagulation of bleeding vessels;
isolation of blood vessels, nerves and parathyroid glands;
intersection and ligation of blood vessels;
Removal of the gland;
wound closure;
postoperative period, transfer to the ward.

Postoperative period

After thyroidectomy, the patient will undergo step-by-step drug treatment:

a month after the operation, taking radioactive iodine to combat possible metastases;
L-thyroxine as replacement therapy and as a decrease in the synthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormone (causes gland growth).

The patient is under lifelong observation by an endocrinologist, consultation is carried out every six months. Postoperative complications occur, but are quite rare. This is bleeding, failure of sutures, damage to the laryngeal nerves, inflammation in the operation area, removal of the parathyroid glands. Postoperative recommendations include following a diet - food should be varied and extremely healthy, with a limit on sweets, alcohol, junk and fatty foods. You should avoid heavy loads and stress, and do not stay in hot rooms.

Remember, in order to diagnose the disease at an early stage, it is important to undergo regular examinations by an endocrinologist.

Watch the video about the symptoms of thyroid cancer:

This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.

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General indicators of the disease

In the early stages, when a tumor appears, common signs of thyroid cancer for all categories can be detected:

Visual increase in the contour of the neck;
Enlargement of lymph nodes;
Difficulty breathing, externally manifested as frequent “swallowing” of air;
Inability to swallow food and even water;
Very strong pain in the throat;
Discomfort in the throat, “lump” and “scratching”;
Transformation of voice characteristics - timbre, appearance of hoarseness and rudeness.

Going through an evolution in a sense, thyroid cancer can manifest itself in a different way, being in the final stages. For example, during this period the following distinctive properties can be discovered:

The tumor in the neck acquires even more massive parameters;
Lymph nodes look voluminous;
There is pressure on nearby organs of the cervical spine - the trachea. It narrows, thereby influencing the breathing process, which undoubtedly affects the mental state of a person;
Due to the effects on the optic nerves, a slight but noticeable “sinking” of the eyes occurs;
Hoarseness of voice, frequent “disappearance”;
Cognitive severity – loss of attention, weakness of concentration, stability;
Decreased memory and its processes - recognition, memorization, storage and increased forgetting;
Irritability, anger and “exacerbation” of negatively colored emotions;
Fatigue;
Depression;
Constant fatigue.

Life after cancer

As noted above, most thyroid tumors have a fairly favorable prognosis even in the metastatic stage. This is due not only to the relatively slow growth of cancer, but also to the capabilities of modern treatment methods.

For papillary and follicular cancer, the five-year survival rate reaches 85%, with figures higher among women. Younger patients achieve better treatment results than older patients. In general, you can live for decades with these forms of cancer, provided that they are detected and treated in a timely manner.

In anaplastic and other undifferentiated forms, the course of the disease is aggressive, metastases appear quite early, and patients live no more than a year after diagnosis.

Since surgical treatment of thyroid cancer most often involves the removal of the entire organ, and patients are forced to take hormonal drugs for the rest of their lives, as a rule, they are assigned a disability group, however, the quality of life and work ability in most patients are not impaired, which allows them to lead a normal lifestyle in further.

The consequences of thyroid cancer are associated with the development of hypothyroidism due to a lack of hormones, but this condition can be successfully corrected by taking tablet medications. In severe cases, loss or impairment of voice function may occur.

It is quite difficult to prevent the development of cancer, so you need to be attentive to any changes in the body and the thyroid gland in particular, and a timely visit to the doctor will help achieve good treatment results and save life.

Disease prognosis

Doctors divide all types of malignant tumors into several types and each of them into 4 stages. Accordingly, the prognosis for survival after surgery differs for each stage and each type of cancer.

Form	Stage I	Stage II	Stage III	IV stage
Papillary	Almost 100% of patients survive after surgery	According to doctors, 100% survive	93%	51%
Follicular	Also	Same results	71%	81%
Medullary	Also	About 98%	81%	28%

The indicators indicated in the table are valid only for standard treatment methods. If more detailed diagnostics are carried out, more effective therapy is applied, the prognosis will be more optimistic.

Causes and risk factors

The causes of thyroid cancer (TC) have not yet been reliably determined.
However, some factors may contribute to the development of this disease. Gender and age.

Thyroid cancer is about three times more common in women than men, although the cause is unknown. Women also tend to develop this disease at an earlier age (40 to 50 years) than men (60 to 70 years).

Genetic predisposition

A malignant tumor of the thyroid gland is more likely in the presence of genetic pathologies.

Inherited mutations in the RET gene are associated with the development of medullary thyroid cancer in approximately one in four cases. This condition is known as familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC). If other endocrine glands are also involved, the disease is called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). People with this genetic mutation often develop FMTC during childhood or early adulthood. Doctors now often recommend having the thyroid gland removed for people who have inherited the RET genetic mutation.
Other hereditary genetic diseases, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner's syndrome, Cowden's disease, and Carney complex type I, are considered risk factors for the development of thyroid cancer, particularly papillary and follicular thyroid cancer.

Even if no known hereditary syndrome has been identified, thyroid neoplasia in a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Ionizing radiation

Radiation exposure, including that used for medical procedures, may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Moreover, such exposure in childhood has a greater risk than in adults.

Low iodine diet

There is evidence to support the notion that a diet that contains very little iodine is associated with an increased risk of developing follicular thyroid cancers. However, it has not yet been possible to prove a direct relationship between iodine deficiency and thyroid cancer. However, thyroid cancer is less common in Europe and the United States, where iodine is added to salt and other foods.

Treatment of malignant thyroid tumors

Treatment of thyroid cancer today is quite effective, and the choice of specific methods depends on the type of tumor, its size and the presence of damage to organs and tissues of the neck. The age of the patients is also important.

The most effective way to treat cancer is surgery. In most cases, the entire gland is removed - a total thyroidectomy, and along with it - the lymph nodes and tissue of the neck.

Surgery

In the case of a small size of the node, it is possible to perform an organ-preserving operation with leaving part of the organ - subtotal resection. Such organ-preserving operations are of particular relevance in children, since it is important to preserve at least some part of the gland capable of producing hormones during the further growth of the child.

In all cases of removal of part or all of the thyroid gland, both during the operation and always after it, the diagnosis is confirmed by histological examination.

Since after surgery it is possible to preserve fragments of thyroid tissue, patients are prescribed hormonal drugs to reduce the stimulating effect on thyroid tissue from the pituitary gland and prevent a possible relapse of cancer.

The tissue of the thyroid gland, as well as follicular and papillary cancer and their metastases, is capable of absorbing iodine, including radioactive one. This feature forms the basis of radioiodine therapy, in which the remnants of not only the gland itself are destroyed, but also metastatic nodes in the lungs and bones. When exposed to radioactive iodine, growth slows down and metastases regress. The ability to target metastatic lesions can significantly improve the prognosis and life expectancy of patients after treatment.

In the case of anaplastic cancer and other malignant tumors of non-epithelial origin (lymphoma, sarcoma), radiation or chemotherapy is used.

chemotherapy

If a patient is diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer that cannot be treated surgically, then doctors limit themselves to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of radioactive iodine in the case of tumors that are sensitive to it.

Considering the fascination of many patients with folk remedies, it should be especially noted that thyroid cancer is not the case when their use is justified. It would not be superfluous to use various sedatives and a nutritious diet, including a large amount of vegetables, fruits, seafood and herbs. With such a diagnosis, even in the stage of metastasis, it is possible to achieve good results with proper treatment from specialists, so if you really want to use traditional medicine, then you can do this in parallel with traditional methods, but be sure to consult with your doctor.

Causes of thyroid cancer

It must be said that scientists have still not been able to find out the exact reason for the development of an oncological tumor in the gland in question. However, there are several factors that influence the development of this deadly disease. These include:

1. Radioactive exposure. Numerous studies conducted with participants in the liquidation of the explosion at a nuclear power plant and residents of nearby regions have shown that as a result of the accident, the number of patients with oncology increased fifteen times! Let's add to this list residents of cities where uranium, quartz and other ores are mined.

2. Radiation therapy. Irradiation in the head or neck area can provoke a tumor in the thyroid gland even after years. Under the influence of radiation, the cells of the human body undergo mutations and can actively divide and grow. In this case, the follicular or papillary form of the tumor develops.

3. Hereditary factor. Scientists have discovered a gene that is responsible for the appearance of the type of cancer in question. If it is present in the body, experts have no doubt that cancer will appear 100%. To prevent harmful consequences, doctors perform surgery in which the gland is removed.

4. Age over 40 years. Although cancer can also develop in children, it is most often experienced by people over 40 years of age. This is due to the aging of organ cells, which are more often subject to malfunctions in genes.

5. Occupational hazards. This disease affects medical workers who, by virtue of their profession, work with various types of radiation. In addition, tumors in the gland in question appear more often in people who work in foundries.

6. Bad habits. Alcohol destroys the body's natural defenses, and smoking promotes the penetration of carcinogenic substances into the body.

7. Stressful situations. Severe and prolonged stress contributes to the development of depression and seriously undermines immune defenses. Here, as in the previous paragraph, cancer develops due to a weakening of the body's defenses.

In addition, the appearance of thyroid cancer can be triggered by certain pathologies, in particular:

“female” diseases (ovarian and uterine diseases);
tumors in the mammary glands;
colon cancer, as well as the presence of polyps in this organ;
nodules on the thyroid gland;
multinodular goiter.

Forecast

In a European study of 86,690 patients with thyroid cancer, Dal Maso et al found that between 2000 and 2007, the 5-year relative survival rates for thyroid cancer in men and women were 81% and 88%, respectively. Between 1999 and 2007, the relative 5-year survival rate for all types of thyroid cancer increased by 5%, although for papillary and follicular cancer in particular the increase was only 2% and 4%, respectively.

In general, the prognosis for patients with papillary, follicular and medullary (early stage) cancer is quite favorable compared to other solid tumors. With the anaplastic form of the disease, the prognosis is always extremely serious.

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Metastases

The timing and intensity of metastasis in malignant tumors of the thyroid gland depend on the type of disease.

So, in the papillary form, metastasis begins late and is inactive. Medullary tumors grow faster and metastasize more actively to regional lymph nodes.

The most aggressive variant of this disease in terms of metastasis is anaplastic. With this form, metastases begin to appear very quickly in distant organs such as the liver, lungs and bones.

Diagnosis of the disease

The manifestation of signs of thyroid cancer on ultrasound is very clearly visible, since this procedure allows you to accurately determine the location of the formed tumor and its actual size. But to accurately diagnose cancer, ultrasound alone is not enough, because ultrasound waves cannot determine whether a lump is cancer.

Therefore, diagnosing thyroid cancer also involves other studies:

physical examination;
blood tests to check for increased levels of tumor markers;
radioisotope examination using radioactive iodine;
biopsy with further histological analysis;
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
computed tomography (CT);
laryngoscopy;
bronchoscopy.

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Treatment methods are determined by the oncologist only after receiving the results of all diagnostic methods performed, based on the size of the tumor, its type and stage of development.

Signs of cancer

Very often, thyroid tumors exist asymptomatically, especially in the early stages of development, so the first sign may be the detection of a node without any additional symptoms. In some cases, the tumor is diagnosed already at the stage of the presence of metastases in the cervical lymph nodes.

Since in most cases the tumor is preceded by a nodular goiter, all patients with existing changes in the gland should regularly undergo appropriate examinations so as not to miss the moment of the onset of cancer.

Signs of thyroid cancer include:

The presence of compaction, tuberosity, palpable nodular formation in the gland;
Pain in the neck, sometimes in the ear;
Swallowing, breathing, and voice problems.

The presence of a lump is one of the first signs of thyroid cancer. If a rapidly growing isolated node is detected in a healthy patient, then cancer is usually suspected in such cases. It is especially necessary to exercise oncological vigilance in relation to children and young people under 20 years of age, in whom such formations are most often a malignant tumor.

In patients with a previous goiter, you should pay attention to the rapid enlargement of individual parts of the organ, the appearance of new nodes and other symptoms indicating malignant transformation.

Pain in the neck area is usually associated with an increase in the size of the tumor node and the thyroid gland as a whole; in addition, the cause may be the growth of cancer into neighboring tissues, vessels and nerves.

Impaired swallowing, breathing and voice (hoarseness up to its complete disappearance) are characteristic of large tumors that compress the esophagus, trachea, larynx, and also damage the recurrent nerve going to the vocal cords.

As neoplasia grows, damage to organs and tissues of the neck, as well as the vascular bundle, circulatory disturbance occurs in the form of dilated, full-blooded saphenous veins. At the stage of cancer spread through the lymphatic vessels, metastases are quite easily detected in the regional lymph nodes of the neck.

Certain forms of thyroid cancer may have clinical features. Thus, papillary cancer grows quite slowly, over years and even decades, and metastasizes to regional lymph nodes in only 20% of patients. Follicular cancer is more aggressive and tends to give hematogenous metastases to the lungs. The medullary variety, due to the ability to synthesize hormones and biologically active substances, manifests itself in a third of patients with diarrhea, and can also be accompanied by disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism, hypertension, a feeling of heat and redness of the face.

Considering the difficulties that may arise when diagnosing asymptomatic forms of cancer, especially in patients with diffuse or nodular forms of goiter, it is necessary to be especially wary if the following signs are present:

A rapidly growing tumor node, an increase in its density, limited mobility of the gland;
The presence of thyroid cancer in family members or close relatives;
The patient's age is under 20 years or over 70;
The presence of hoarseness with enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
Previous exposure to ionizing radiation in the head and neck area.

Often in children, cancer is detected by the presence of enlarged lymph nodes, so all cases of cervical lymphadenitis or lymphadenopathy should be studied in detail for the presence of a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland.

Video: symptoms and signs of thyroid disease

Species and types

There are several types of thyroid cancer, which are classified according to the type of cells from which they develop.

Papillary carcinoma

This is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately 80 percent of cases. Papillary cancer is a slow-growing, differentiated cancer that develops from follicular cells and can develop in one or both lobes of the thyroid gland. This type of cancer can spread to regional lymph nodes, but is usually treatable with a good prognosis.

Follicular carcinoma

The second most common thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately one in 10 cases. It is more common in countries with insufficient iodine intake from food. Follicular carcinoma is a differentiated form of thyroid cancer. In most cases, it is associated with a good prognosis, although it is somewhat more aggressive than papillary. Follicular carcinomas do not usually spread to regional lymph nodes, but they are more likely than papillary carcinomas to spread to other organs, such as the lungs or bones.

Hürthle cell carcinoma

It is also known as oxyphyllocell carcinoma. It is defined as a subtype of follicular carcinoma and accounts for approximately 3% of all thyroid cancer cases.

Medullary cancer

Developing from C cells in the thyroid gland, it is more aggressive and less differentiated than papillary or follicular cancer. Approximately 4% of all thyroid cancer cases are of the medullary subtype. These cancers are more likely to spread to lymph nodes and other organs compared to more differentiated thyroid cancer.

Anaplastic carcinoma

The most undifferentiated type. This means that the tumor cells are the least similar to normal thyroid cells. The result is an aggressive form of cancer that quickly spreads to other parts of the neck and body. It accounts for approximately 2% of thyroid cancer cases.