Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Cancer (pronunciation: THY-roid KAN-ser) is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple.
Etymology
The term "Thyroid" comes from the Greek word "thyreos", meaning "shield", due to the gland's shape. "Cancer" is derived from the Latin word "cancer" meaning "crab", as the disease's invasive nature was likened to a crab's sideways movement.
Types of Thyroid Cancer
There are four main types of thyroid cancer:
- Papillary thyroid cancer: This is the most common type, making up about 80% of all thyroid cancer cases. It grows very slowly and usually affects only one lobe of the thyroid gland.
- Follicular thyroid cancer: This type accounts for about 10% to 15% of all thyroid cancers. It also grows slowly and can often be cured with treatment.
- Medullary thyroid cancer: This type accounts for about 3% of all thyroid cancers. It is more difficult to control because it often spreads to other parts of the body.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer: This is the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer and is very difficult to treat. It is rare, accounting for about 2% of all thyroid cancers.
Symptoms
Symptoms of thyroid cancer can include a lump in the neck, changes in voice, difficulty swallowing, throat or neck pain, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Treatment
Treatment options for thyroid cancer can include surgery, Radioactive iodine therapy, External radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, and Targeted therapy.
Related Terms
- Thyroidectomy: The surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
- Lobectomy: The surgical removal of one lobe of the thyroid.
- Lymph node: Small, bean-shaped organs that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease.
- Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thyroid Cancer
- Wikipedia's article - Thyroid Cancer
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