According to statistics, women between the ages of 45 and 60 suffer most often from thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer is one of what oncologists call the “younger” types of cancer. Just 30 years ago, this type of malignant neoplasm was very rare. However, with the development of modern ultrasound diagnostic methods, thyroid cancer has been increasingly detected in patients. Today, this oncopathology accounts for 2 – 3% of all cases of malignant neoplasms. Experts from the Voronezh Clinical Oncology Center talked about ways to diagnose thyroid cancer early.
Who is at risk?
According to statistics, women aged 45-60 years more often suffer from thyroid cancer. In men, this pathology occurs 4 times more often.
A special risk group is women who experience hormonal changes in the body due to pregnancy, lactation, hormonal imbalance or menopause. Among men, this cancer usually occurs in smokers.
Another risk factor is iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency in the body can lead to the appearance of a so-called nodular goiter – this is a general concept that refers to all neoplasms in the thyroid gland. And nodular goiter, in turn, often leads to the formation of a malignant tumor.
Iodine deficiency is manifested by general weakness, memory loss, weight gain, inflammation, hair loss and dry skin. If you have symptoms, you should consult a GP for an examination. The doctor orders a test for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), T3 and T4 in the blood, and iodine determination in the urine.
Heredity is an important risk factor for thyroid cancer. First of all, those who are at risk are those who have several first-degree relatives suffering from this type of cancer: parents, sisters, brothers, children.
Chronic diseases of the thyroid gland can also cause cancer: adenoma, inflammatory processes, genetic changes, abnormal tumors, etc.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
In most cases, thyroid cancer is asymptomatic and does not cause any complaints in patients, especially in the early stages.
Usually, the first sign of thyroid cancer is the appearance of a dense lump on the neck that can be easily felt. It can also be a small swelling in the thyroid area. Sometimes the first sign of the disease is enlarged lymph nodes.
As the tumor grows, patients may experience the following symptoms:
- pain in the throat and neck (this may feel sore, “scratching” in the throat, dry cough);
- difficulty swallowing (this happens when a thyroid nodule begins to press on the esophagus);
- shortness of breath (an enlarged thyroid gland causes narrowing of the tracheal lumen);
- hoarseness, hoarseness and change in voice timbre (this can be caused by a tumor pressing on the larynx).
The symptoms of thyroid cancer are often similar to the symptoms of viral infections, shortness of breath and tonsillitis. Most of these symptoms are related to the appearance of a thyroid nodule. However, it is important to remember that thyroid nodules occur in many adults, and only less than 5% of these lesions are cancerous.
If nodules are found in the thyroid area, you should consult a doctor. Especially if these forms appeared at a young age (before 20 years). At this age, most of these forms are malignant.
Methods of diagnosis
Palpation is the simplest way to diagnose thyroid cancer. In this way, the doctor can find tumors as small as 1 cm. Ultrasound is the main method for diagnosing tumors. Ultrasound allows you to determine the location of the tumor, its shape, size and other parameters. MRI and CT are also used to diagnose thyroid cancer.
If a tumor is found, the doctor may order a biopsy for the patient – a collection of cells from a “suspicious” area of the gland to identify the nature of the tumor and determine treatment.
To prevent thyroid cancer pathologies, it is important to monitor the iodine content in the body. The best way is to have regular blood tests
Remember: When diagnosed early, most thyroid cancers are highly treatable and have a good prognosis.
The material was prepared with the help of specialists from the Voronezh Regional Clinical Oncology Center.
More details: https://moe-online.ru/preview/1205458?utm_source=copypas
2024-11-09 06:00:00
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