Cancer is a very scary subject for every one of us, and, unfortunately, it touches a lot of families.
Thyroid cancer diagnosis has increased in the past decades and it’s becoming one of the most common cancers in America. Women are highly affected by this type of cancer. Statistics tell us that it affects 3 out of 4 women in the age range of 20-34. According to The American Cancer Society “…most recent estimates for thyroid cancer in the United States for 2018 are about 53,990 new cases of thyroid cancer (40,900 in women, and 13,090 in men). About 2,060 deaths from thyroid cancer (1,100 women and 960 men)”. But, thanks to medical advances it’s much easier to detect the outgrowth of cells on the thyroid gland than in the past. These outgrowths of cells, called thyroid nodules or lumps, can be detected by a physical exam.
You can give yourself a checkup feeling around the bottom of your neck, below the Adam’s apple, feeling around for lumps. Of course, it’s better to have your doctor poke around for those to make certain if the nodule is benign or not. WebMD tells us that questions follow this check-up; they will as if you have been exposed to radiation or if there’s a history of cancer in the family which will lead to genetic testing. A blood test occurs to check the levels of thyroid hormones to see if the area is working correctly, this step doesn’t have to do with detecting cancer. Biopsy of the lump, id there is one, is a must to discover if it’s cancerous or if the results mark negative. This procedure is called a Fine-Needle biopsy to be able to get the sample needed.
Another way to test for thyroid nodules for those that may not be felt is an ultrasound, this also helps to see if the lump’s size, to see if it’s solid or if it has liquid since the solid ones are more prone to be cancerous. The chances of a better prognosis come with early detection; the first signs of a lump has to be a red flag to immediately call and make an appointment with your doctor. Sometimes certain symptoms are more prone to be problems with the thyroid gland and not necessarily cancer, but, it’s better to make sure. Remember that early detection helps a lot for treatment and recovery, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor!