The exact causes of thyroid cancer are not yet known. Doctors are hardly able to explain while some people are affected with this disease and another is not. However, it is clear that thyroid cancer is not contagious. No one can “catch” cancer from another person.
Who is at a risk of developing thyroid cancer? Risk is something that increases the chance of developing the disease. Some such risk factors for thyroid cancer include family history of certain cancers, age, habit of tobacco and tobacco products, improper eating habits or unhealthy diet, obesity, no physical activities or say lack of exercise, exposure to radiation or other cancerous compounds or agents, and genetic changes.
Thyroid cancer as such does not show any symptoms but as it grows some symptoms might be visible and can be noticed. Like noticing lump, or nodule, in the front of the neck somewhere around the Adam’s apple, difficulty speaking in a normal voice or voice becoming hoarse, swelling in lymph nodes, in the neck to be precise, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing and experiencing pain in the throat or neck.
These symptoms may not necessarily lead to thyroid cancer. It may be a simple infection, a benign goiter also.
If an individual is experiencing any of these symptoms he/she should visit a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor is in the best position to diagnose and treat the problem.
Doctors will perform several tests like doing a simple physical examination, blood test, ultrasonography, biopsy, radio nuclide scanning etc.
Before giving the final report to their patients. Possible treatments are the same as in any type of cancer like, surgery, radiation, hormone treatment etc.
Patient is given enough time to talk to his doctor. Doctors specializing in thyroid cancer and other thyroid related problems and its treatment are called Thyroidologists.
In some cases the patient may want to take a second opinion. In such a case some more time goes before the treatment can actually begin but it is okay. The delay does not make the treatment any less effective.
Follow-up care after thyroid cancer treatment constitutes an important part of the treatment. Regular checkups help to take a note of changes in health. Problems if any can be found and treated at the earliest. Checkups may include a detailed physical examination, x-rays, imaging tests like nuclear medicine scan, and blood test for calcitonin etc.
How often the patient should pay a visit to the doctor and which types of tests are needed etc the doctors can provide the best answer.
