The term thyroid cancer is actually just a generic name for four specific cancers. Thyroid cancer is unique among other types of cancers because it is the only type that does not require chemotherapy. In this article, we’ll be taking a close look at thyroid cancer, the different kinds of it, and how it is treated.
The Different Kinds of Thyroid Cancer
Like mentioned earlier, there are four types of thyroid cancer. These kinds are:
1.) Papillary thyroid cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type. More than 70% of recorded thyroid cancer cases are papillary tumors. Despite being the most common, papillary thyroid cancers are also easy to cure. Cure rate is at 80-90%, with a survival rate of ten years. However, it also has a high recurrence rate which means that it is possible to contract the cancer again even after treatment.
2.) Follicular thyroid cancer
Follicular thyroid cancer is one of the aggressive variants of this tumor. It occurs mostly on older people, and rarely on younger patients. In contrast to the papillary tumor, this type of thyroid cancer is not likely to recur once the patient undergoes radiation therapy.
3.) Medullary thyroid cancer
The third most common type of thyroid cancer, medullary tumors are formed in the parafollicular cells instead of the cells that produce thyroid hormones. It has a low cure rate, but now as low as the anaplastic tumors, which are considered as the worst among the four thyroid cancers.
4.) Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is known as the killer among the four types of thyroid cancers. It is not uncommon for a patient to die after only a year of being diagnosed with it, and even those who are treated live only for 3 years. Worse, the cancer may arise as a complication of another thyroid cancer or goiter.
How are different types of thyroid cancer diagnosed ?
If a patient is suspected of having thyroid cancer, a pathologist uses a large needle that is injected into the thyroid nodule. In some cases, the pathologist extracts a thyroid nodule from the patient, which he then uses to check for the presence of any malignant tumor. If there is a tumor, the pathologist determines what type it is and recommends possible surgical solutions.
The Treatment
A typical treatment for any thyroid cancer is to remove the problematic thyroid nodule, usually right after the diagnosis is done. After surgery, the patient is then subjected to radioactive iodine treatment. The entire process is unique because of the minimal side effects experienced by the patient, as opposed to chemotherapy where a patient may experience severe nausea or diarrhea. This is because the radioactive substance cannot be observed by the other cells of the body, hence the effects are isolated within the thyroid cells that absorb and concentrate the radioactive iodine in the pill.
To compensate for the lack of a thyroid hormone following its removal, the patient is subjected to a lifetime prescription of a thyroid hormone pill. The pill takes the place of the thyroid hormone in providing the iodine needed by the body.