Early Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer: Know It All

Overview

With the increasing number of new thyroid cancer cases every day, we should be concerned about such cases. We often tend to ignore any minor swelling around the neck and don’t seek any medical advice for the same. According to the American Cancer Society, thyroid cancer can develop at any age, but the risk is highest for women in their 40s or 50s, while most males are diagnosed in their 60s or 70s. Thyroid cancer strikes women three times as frequently as males. Here we have discussed the early signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer including the importance of screening in early diagnosis for cancer cases and many more.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a type of solid tumor malignancy that typically manifests as a nodule or mass in the thyroid gland, which is located at the front base of your throat. It arises when renegade cells reproduce at a rate that the immune system is unable to manage.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer that you should not ignore:

The most common indication or symptom of thyroid cancer is swelling in your neck. Sometimes we tend to ignore any swelling around the neck as our thyroid usually continues to function normally. The neck mass or swelling can be a primary tumor or enlarged lymph node that might be replaced with cancer cells, if not treated early.

Thyroid nodules that are large enough to cause additional problems can occur in various circumstances, including:

• swallowing difficulties
• Breathing difficulty
• ache when moving the head or neck
• Hoarseness
• modifications to the voice
• a chronic cough
• Except in rare cases of medullary thyroid cancer( a type of thyroid cancer), pain is extremely rare in thyroid cancer.

Let’s discuss the common symptoms in detail with our eminent endocrinologist.

• Lump or swelling around the neck- The most frequent symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump, nodule, or swelling near the base of your neck that you can feel or see in the mirror. However, not all bumps are cancerous. According to studies, up to half of all adults over the age of 60 have some form of a thyroid nodule, and only a small percentage of these are malignant tumors. So, while getting a lump looked out is crucial, there's no need to panic if you have one.

• Persistent hoarseness in the voice- temporary changes in voice due to cough and cold is normal. However, if your voice becomes excessively hoarse or breathy for no apparent reason and remains thus, a huge tumor may be harming your vocal cords. A significant change in your voice without any such specific reason is an indication that you should consult a doctor straight away.

• Trouble breathing-When a tumor at the back of the thyroid presses on the esophagus(food pipe), and swallowing becomes difficult. Some people experience a feeling as though something is caught in their throat, while others describe a tightness that makes swallowing difficult. Solid items, such as bread and meats, are typically difficult to swallow.

• Chronic cough- In rare cases, a tumor may develop to the size of your esophagus, producing shortness of breath or a chronic cough.

What causes thyroid cancer?

To date, it’s not pretty clear what causes thyroid cancer. However, a battery of potential risk factors can be responsible for the same. Following are the reasons that include-

• Female
• Aged around 40 years
• History of goiter( enlarged thyroid gland)
• Asian origin
• Iodine deficiency
• History of thyroid cancer or thyroid disorders in the family
• Mutation on a specific gene like RET gene.
• Being overweight and obese

If you or someone you know is suffering from the above-mentioned symptoms or is at risk, then don’t delay the necessary check-up and do the needful. Your specialist will check for any possibility of such cancer. he/she might suggest you have a biopsy i.e FNAC( Fine needle aspiration cytology) to determine whether the swelling is cancerous or benign.

Why should you consider getting cancer treatment in India?

India is the most favored place for cancer treatment due to a few major reasons. And if you are searching for the best thyroid cancer treatment hospital in India, we will help you to find the same.

• India's cutting-edge techniques,
• medical skills,
• Multidisciplinary approach
• Patient rehabilitation services
• Advanced medical equipment
• State-of-the-art surgical techniques for thyroid cancer surgery
• thyroid surgery costs in India are among the best in the world, as our patients need affordable and quality outcomes.

All these have significantly increased the success rate of thyroid cancer treatment in India.

How can we help in the treatment?

If you are searching for oncology treatment in India, we will serve as your guide throughout your treatment and will be physically present with you even before your medical treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance in hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality health care to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health professionals that will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.

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Conclusion

By simply packing their medical tour to India, liver transplant treatment can substantially benefit the patient. We also offer a comprehensive range of counseling for coping with emotional changes while getting cancer treatment to our national and international patients as well.