According to the National Cancer Institute, there are about 56,000 new cases of thyroid cancer in the US each year, and the majority of those diagnoses are papillary thyroid cancer—the most common type of thyroid cancer. Females are more likely to have thyroid cancer at a ratio of 3:1. Thyroid cancer can occur in any age group, although it is most common after age 30, and
its aggressiveness increases significantly in older patients.
Thyroid cancer does not always cause symptoms; often, the first sign of thyroid cancer is a thyroid nodule.
•The National Cancer Institute recommends that anyone who received radiation to the head or neck in childhood be examined by a doctor every one to two years to detect potential thyroid cancer.
•The thyroid gland produces electical signals to communicate with other glands and organs which are important in the normal regulation of the metabolism of the body.
•There are four major types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
•The most common signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump, or thyroid nodule, that can be felt in the neck, trouble swallowing, throat or neck pain, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, cough, and vocal changes.
•Most commonly an ultrasound is performed to confirm the presence of a nodule, and assess the status of the whole gland.
•Surgery is the most common form of treatment for thyroid cancer that has not spread to other
•The survival rate and prognosis of thyroid cancer depends upon a few factors, including the individual's age, the size of the tumor, and whether the cancer has metastasized.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland in the neck. It has two kinds of cells that make hormones. Follicular cells make thyroid hormone, which affects heart rate, body temperature, and energy level. C cells make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in the blood.
The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and lies at the front of the neck, beneath the voice box (larynx). It has two parts, or lobes. The two lobes are separated by a thin section called the isthmus.
A healthy thyroid is a little larger than a quarter. It usually cannot be felt through the skin. A swollen lobe might look or feel like a lump in the front of the neck. A swollen thyroid is called a goiter. Most goiters are caused by not enough iodine in the diet.
What are the types of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid nodules can be benign or malignant. The following are the major types of thyroid cancer:
• Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers account for 80 to 90 percent of all thyroid cancers. Both types begin in the follicular cells of the thyroid. Most papillary and follicular thyroid cancers tend to grow slowly. If they are detected early, most can be treated successfully.
• Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for 5 to 10 percent of thyroid cancer cases. It arises in C cells, not follicular cells. Medullary thyroid cancer is easier to control if it is found and treated before it spreads to other parts of the body.
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the least common type of thyroid cancer (only 1 to 2 percent of cases). It arises in the follicular cells. The cancer cells are highly abnormal and difficult to recognize. This type of cancer is usually very hard to control because the cancer cells tend to grow and spread very quickly.
Dietary and metabolic acids that affect the thyroid can also damage cells in other organs giving the improession that the cancer is spreading or metastasizing. When cancerous cells are found in nearby lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels this is the result of an over-acid lifestyle and diet and not the spread of cancer cells from the primary site.
Current medical science believes that cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body and the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if thyroid cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are thyroid cancer cells. The disease is metastatic thyroid cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as thyroid cancer, not as lung cancer. This is a medical myth. Cancer is a disease of the fluids of the body and NOT the cells of the body. Cancer is an acidic condition that is systemic and affects the weakest parts of the body and NOT a localized condition that metastasizes.
Research has shown that people with acidic lifestyles and diets are more likely than others to develop thyroid cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a dis-ease.
The following risk factors are associated with an increased chance of developing thyroid cancer:
Thyroid cancer does not always cause symptoms; often, the first sign of thyroid cancer is a thyroid nodule.
•The National Cancer Institute recommends that anyone who received radiation to the head or neck in childhood be examined by a doctor every one to two years to detect potential thyroid cancer.
•The thyroid gland produces electical signals to communicate with other glands and organs which are important in the normal regulation of the metabolism of the body.
•There are four major types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
•The most common signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump, or thyroid nodule, that can be felt in the neck, trouble swallowing, throat or neck pain, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, cough, and vocal changes.
•Most commonly an ultrasound is performed to confirm the presence of a nodule, and assess the status of the whole gland.
•Surgery is the most common form of treatment for thyroid cancer that has not spread to other
•The survival rate and prognosis of thyroid cancer depends upon a few factors, including the individual's age, the size of the tumor, and whether the cancer has metastasized.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland in the neck. It has two kinds of cells that make hormones. Follicular cells make thyroid hormone, which affects heart rate, body temperature, and energy level. C cells make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in the blood.
The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and lies at the front of the neck, beneath the voice box (larynx). It has two parts, or lobes. The two lobes are separated by a thin section called the isthmus.
A healthy thyroid is a little larger than a quarter. It usually cannot be felt through the skin. A swollen lobe might look or feel like a lump in the front of the neck. A swollen thyroid is called a goiter. Most goiters are caused by not enough iodine in the diet.
What are the types of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid nodules can be benign or malignant. The following are the major types of thyroid cancer:
• Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers account for 80 to 90 percent of all thyroid cancers. Both types begin in the follicular cells of the thyroid. Most papillary and follicular thyroid cancers tend to grow slowly. If they are detected early, most can be treated successfully.
• Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for 5 to 10 percent of thyroid cancer cases. It arises in C cells, not follicular cells. Medullary thyroid cancer is easier to control if it is found and treated before it spreads to other parts of the body.
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the least common type of thyroid cancer (only 1 to 2 percent of cases). It arises in the follicular cells. The cancer cells are highly abnormal and difficult to recognize. This type of cancer is usually very hard to control because the cancer cells tend to grow and spread very quickly.
Dietary and metabolic acids that affect the thyroid can also damage cells in other organs giving the improession that the cancer is spreading or metastasizing. When cancerous cells are found in nearby lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels this is the result of an over-acid lifestyle and diet and not the spread of cancer cells from the primary site.
Current medical science believes that cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body and the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if thyroid cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are thyroid cancer cells. The disease is metastatic thyroid cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as thyroid cancer, not as lung cancer. This is a medical myth. Cancer is a disease of the fluids of the body and NOT the cells of the body. Cancer is an acidic condition that is systemic and affects the weakest parts of the body and NOT a localized condition that metastasizes.
Research has shown that people with acidic lifestyles and diets are more likely than others to develop thyroid cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a dis-ease.
The following risk factors are associated with an increased chance of developing thyroid cancer:
• Acidic Radiation. People exposed to high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to develop papillary or follicular thyroid cancer.
• Family history. Medullary thyroid cancer can be caused by a change, or alteration, in a gene called RET. The altered RET gene can be passed from parent to child. Nearly everyone with the altered RET gene will develop medullary thyroid cancer. A blood test can detect an altered RET gene. If the abnormal gene is found in a person with medullary thyroid cancer, the doctor may suggest that family members be tested.
• Age. Most patients with thyroid cancer are more than 40 years old. People with anaplastic thyroid cancer are usually more than 65 years old.
• Race. In the United States, white people are more likely than African Americans to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer because of their acidic lifesytles and diet.
• Not enough alkaizing iodine in the diet from mineral salts. The thyroid needs the mineral salt iodine for the thyroid to function properly. In the United States, iodine is added to salt to protect people from thyroid problems. Thyroid cancer seems to be less common in the United States than in countries where the mineral salt iodine is not part of the diet.
Most people who have known risk factors do not get thyroid cancer. On the other hand, many who do get the over-acid dis-ease have none of these risk factors. People who think they may be at risk for thyroid cancer should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.
What are symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Early thyroid cancer often does not cause symptoms. But as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
• Family history. Medullary thyroid cancer can be caused by a change, or alteration, in a gene called RET. The altered RET gene can be passed from parent to child. Nearly everyone with the altered RET gene will develop medullary thyroid cancer. A blood test can detect an altered RET gene. If the abnormal gene is found in a person with medullary thyroid cancer, the doctor may suggest that family members be tested.
• Age. Most patients with thyroid cancer are more than 40 years old. People with anaplastic thyroid cancer are usually more than 65 years old.
• Race. In the United States, white people are more likely than African Americans to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer because of their acidic lifesytles and diet.
• Not enough alkaizing iodine in the diet from mineral salts. The thyroid needs the mineral salt iodine for the thyroid to function properly. In the United States, iodine is added to salt to protect people from thyroid problems. Thyroid cancer seems to be less common in the United States than in countries where the mineral salt iodine is not part of the diet.
Most people who have known risk factors do not get thyroid cancer. On the other hand, many who do get the over-acid dis-ease have none of these risk factors. People who think they may be at risk for thyroid cancer should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.
What are symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Early thyroid cancer often does not cause symptoms. But as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
• A lump, or nodule, in the front of the neck near the Adam's apple;
• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking in a normal voice;
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck;
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing; or
• Pain in the throat or neck.
These symptoms are not sure signs of thyroid cancer. An out-infection, a benign goiter, or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.
If a person has any of these over-acid symptoms caused by an over-acidic lifestyle and diet that suggest thyroid cancer, the doctor may perform a physical exam and ask about the patient's personal and family medical history. The doctor also may order laboratory tests and imaging tests to produce pictures of the thyroid and other areas.
The exams and tests may include the following:
• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking in a normal voice;
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck;
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing; or
• Pain in the throat or neck.
These symptoms are not sure signs of thyroid cancer. An out-infection, a benign goiter, or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.
If a person has any of these over-acid symptoms caused by an over-acidic lifestyle and diet that suggest thyroid cancer, the doctor may perform a physical exam and ask about the patient's personal and family medical history. The doctor also may order laboratory tests and imaging tests to produce pictures of the thyroid and other areas.
The exams and tests may include the following:
• Physical exam—the doctor will feel the neck, thyroid, voice box, and lymph nodes in the neck for unusual growths (nodules) or swelling.
• Blood tests—the doctor may test for abnormal levels (too low or too high) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain. It stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. TSH also controls how fast thyroid follicular cells grow. If medullary thyroid cancer is suspected, the doctor may check for abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood. The doctor also may order blood tests to detect an altered RET gene or to look for a high level of calcitonin.
• Ultrasonography—the ultrasound device uses sound waves that people cannot hear. The waves bounce off the thyroid, and a computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram. From the picture, the doctor can see how many nodules are present, how big they are, and whether they are solid or filled with fluid.
• Thermography scanning— offers a non-invasive, non-radiologic measurement of thyroid physiology. As such it will not detect nodules or tumors but will provide a representation of physiologic dysfunction which when coupled with history, physical examination and diagnostic ultrasound along with other tests will provide a far greater picture of the thyroid function.
Get your Thyroid Ultrasound and Thermography to prevent a Cancerous Thyroid!
• Blood tests—the doctor may test for abnormal levels (too low or too high) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain. It stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. TSH also controls how fast thyroid follicular cells grow. If medullary thyroid cancer is suspected, the doctor may check for abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood. The doctor also may order blood tests to detect an altered RET gene or to look for a high level of calcitonin.
• Ultrasonography—the ultrasound device uses sound waves that people cannot hear. The waves bounce off the thyroid, and a computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram. From the picture, the doctor can see how many nodules are present, how big they are, and whether they are solid or filled with fluid.
• Thermography scanning— offers a non-invasive, non-radiologic measurement of thyroid physiology. As such it will not detect nodules or tumors but will provide a representation of physiologic dysfunction which when coupled with history, physical examination and diagnostic ultrasound along with other tests will provide a far greater picture of the thyroid function.
Get your Thyroid Ultrasound and Thermography to prevent a Cancerous Thyroid!
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