My depression had dissolved a lot since the dosage increase, but my mood never completely got back to normal; not the normal that I was accustomed too, prior to the first thyroid surgery. So much had changed within me, that at times, I did not recognize myself. The ability to deal with stress had been almost completely stripped away. I now become irritated at the slightest thing. My body also cannot deal with extreme temperatures.. be they hot or cold tempuratures. If it is too hot, I will feel over heated and almost unable to catch my breath. If it is too cold, my hands and feet will literally freeze, leaving me shivering and feeling sick.
I walked into his office and took a seat. A few minutes later, the figure of an older short man walked into the office and sat down on the other side of the large wooden desk. He said hello, I´m doctor____, and then proceeded to go through the folder of papers that my family physician had faxed to him.
He asked what had brought me to him, and so I told him. Starting from the original 25mg cytomel experience, to the depression, to the irritability, to the disagreement with the other endo, to what I felt would resolve my depression.
I told him that I believed that cytomel would cure my depression.. that the T4 increase had helped a lot, but that it hadn´t completely brought me back to the way I should be feeling.
He refused to prescribe cytomel, but agreed that I continued taking the same upped dosage of synthroid. I couldn´t understand why he refused to prescribe the cytomel and keep me on a lower dosage synthroid, but at least he agreed to keep me on the higher dose of T4, which was better than nothing.
He went into his doctor explanation of why he felt that cytomel wasn´t a proper medication that I should be on, and then he said something that completely floored me. His thrown-in little sentence made me think and wonder about people suffering all over the world from clinical depression who really might have a thyroid problem which doctors and their tests are unable to detect.
He said that some psyciatrists are experimenting with a small dose cytomel to treat some patients for depression. HA?? so he agreed with me, while disagreeing with me.. MAKES ME WONDER!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
After Cancer: My story cont.
After walking out of the endo´s office, I went home feeling more depressed and hopeless then I had ever felt. It just seemed that coping with depression was going to become ingrained into my future, and honestly, I did not want to go on if it meant that I would be feeling depressed for the rest of my life.
Hitting the lows of all lows in my life, left me in ´desperation mode´, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. As a test, I upped my synthroid dosage without the knowledge of any of my doctors. I did think about all the things that could go wrong with a dosage that is too high, but even those risks were not enough to deter me from wanting to live a semi happy life. Anything was better than having to deal with depression, even if that meant osteoporosis or a heart attack, or something else. Risking what was left of my fragile health, was well worth it if my emotional health improved.
The next morning, I took one and a half pills instead of the usual one pill which was prescribed to me. I went through the day feeling as bad as I had been feeling, but continued to hope that things would change in the upcoming days.
Three days after I had upped my dose of synthroid, I noticed that I was feeling a little better, and for the first time in a long time, a smile escaped my face. A glimmer of hope had entered my being.
As the days continued to pass, my emotional health continued to improve.
My thyroid medication was running out, however, and I knew that I would have to confess to my doctor to what I had been doing, so I called his office and made an appointment.
Two days later, I walked into his office and began telling him about what I had been up to.. He was shocked to say the least, but understood why I had done what I had done.
After hearing about my experience with the endocrinologist, he made an appointment with another endo... a good friend of his.
Hitting the lows of all lows in my life, left me in ´desperation mode´, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. As a test, I upped my synthroid dosage without the knowledge of any of my doctors. I did think about all the things that could go wrong with a dosage that is too high, but even those risks were not enough to deter me from wanting to live a semi happy life. Anything was better than having to deal with depression, even if that meant osteoporosis or a heart attack, or something else. Risking what was left of my fragile health, was well worth it if my emotional health improved.
The next morning, I took one and a half pills instead of the usual one pill which was prescribed to me. I went through the day feeling as bad as I had been feeling, but continued to hope that things would change in the upcoming days.
Three days after I had upped my dose of synthroid, I noticed that I was feeling a little better, and for the first time in a long time, a smile escaped my face. A glimmer of hope had entered my being.
As the days continued to pass, my emotional health continued to improve.
My thyroid medication was running out, however, and I knew that I would have to confess to my doctor to what I had been doing, so I called his office and made an appointment.
Two days later, I walked into his office and began telling him about what I had been up to.. He was shocked to say the least, but understood why I had done what I had done.
After hearing about my experience with the endocrinologist, he made an appointment with another endo... a good friend of his.
Friday, November 7, 2008
After Cancer: My Story...Bad Times Ahead
Nothing really changed immediately after my second surgery. What was supposed to be a day surgery once again turned into a hospital stay due to the same problem with dropping calcium levels.
The next morning, my endocrinologist walked into my hospital room to discuss the new medication that I would be taking.
I was sent home later that morning with a prescription for cytomel 25mcg.
Cytomel is a thyroid hormone also known as (L-triiodothyronine or L T3). The thyroid gland produces small amounts T1, T2,T3 and larger amounts of T4, which is the (T) that most people are familiar with. Unfortunately, most doctors concentrate almost exclusively on the T4 for thyroid patients. (A MISTAKE IN MY OPINION).
I was given a prescription of cytomel for one month post surgery, and while taking the medication, I automatically knew that the dosage was too high, as I began having hot flashes, but refused to report it to the doctors, because I was otherwise feeling really good. The problems began once my cytomel ran out, and I was told that I would only be taking synthroid from then on.
Several days after being without cytomel in my system, everything came tumbling down. Severe depression started setting in, and I could not overcome holding back tears, which was something that I was always capable of doing in the past. (I was never a criar) before this, and now, it seemed that it was all I did.
My energy levels dropped to a zombified state, and I began gaining weight very rapidly.
I made an appointment to see the endocrinologist and told her what was happening to me, and I asked for a prescription of a small dosage cytomel.. Needless to say, she refused... and instead, insisted that my depression was not due to my hormone levels, but rather something else.. She was way off line, and I walked out of her office and went to see my family physician instead.
The next morning, my endocrinologist walked into my hospital room to discuss the new medication that I would be taking.
I was sent home later that morning with a prescription for cytomel 25mcg.
Cytomel is a thyroid hormone also known as (L-triiodothyronine or L T3). The thyroid gland produces small amounts T1, T2,T3 and larger amounts of T4, which is the (T) that most people are familiar with. Unfortunately, most doctors concentrate almost exclusively on the T4 for thyroid patients. (A MISTAKE IN MY OPINION).
I was given a prescription of cytomel for one month post surgery, and while taking the medication, I automatically knew that the dosage was too high, as I began having hot flashes, but refused to report it to the doctors, because I was otherwise feeling really good. The problems began once my cytomel ran out, and I was told that I would only be taking synthroid from then on.
Several days after being without cytomel in my system, everything came tumbling down. Severe depression started setting in, and I could not overcome holding back tears, which was something that I was always capable of doing in the past. (I was never a criar) before this, and now, it seemed that it was all I did.
My energy levels dropped to a zombified state, and I began gaining weight very rapidly.
I made an appointment to see the endocrinologist and told her what was happening to me, and I asked for a prescription of a small dosage cytomel.. Needless to say, she refused... and instead, insisted that my depression was not due to my hormone levels, but rather something else.. She was way off line, and I walked out of her office and went to see my family physician instead.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
After Cancer: My Story...Part 4
The next day, I walked into the hospital where my surgery was to be performed. First I went in to see the surgeon, and immediately after, went in to speak with the endocrinologist, who was to look after my hormone health.
Three weeks later, I walked into the pre-op department of that same hospital to have my pre-op testing done, and three weeks after that, I walked into same area to report for my surgery, which was scheduled for 9 a.m. that day. I was there two hours prior to finish any paper work that needed to be done.
Living in Canada gave me the benefit of not having to worry about paying for my surgery or hospital stay. A great benefit to any patient who has to go through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, and something that I am extremely grateful for.
I went into surgery with a complete thyroid gland, and was pushed out into the recovery room with one lobe left.
The surgery itself, was supposed to be a day surgery, which means that they cut you up during the day, and let you go home in the evening.
I ended up spending the night at the hospital because my calcium levels dropped quite low due to the close proximaty of the parathyroid glands which control the body´s calcium levels.
After being given many hospital strength calcium tablets, which I may add, where quite yummy, and as many blood tests as calcium tablets, the medical staff felt that I was good to leave the pleasure of their company, and I was sent home the next morning.
One week after my surgery, I received a call from my surgeon´s office, which I found to be strange because I already had an appointment to see him in another week´s time. The woman on the other side of the phone line told me that the surgeon needed to speak with me, and wanted me to come into his office as soon as possible. Ah oh, not again.
When I walked into the surgeon´s office the very next day, I was told that I was one of the unfortunate ten percent of people who needed to have surgery of the thyroid gland twice. During the first surgery, the surgeon sent a sample from the other nodule ( the one which was inconclusive) to have tested, and it also came back positive for the same variant of cancer.
I had my second surgery 6 months later because I wasn´t sure that I wanted to go through another surgery.
Three weeks later, I walked into the pre-op department of that same hospital to have my pre-op testing done, and three weeks after that, I walked into same area to report for my surgery, which was scheduled for 9 a.m. that day. I was there two hours prior to finish any paper work that needed to be done.
Living in Canada gave me the benefit of not having to worry about paying for my surgery or hospital stay. A great benefit to any patient who has to go through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, and something that I am extremely grateful for.
I went into surgery with a complete thyroid gland, and was pushed out into the recovery room with one lobe left.
The surgery itself, was supposed to be a day surgery, which means that they cut you up during the day, and let you go home in the evening.
I ended up spending the night at the hospital because my calcium levels dropped quite low due to the close proximaty of the parathyroid glands which control the body´s calcium levels.
After being given many hospital strength calcium tablets, which I may add, where quite yummy, and as many blood tests as calcium tablets, the medical staff felt that I was good to leave the pleasure of their company, and I was sent home the next morning.
One week after my surgery, I received a call from my surgeon´s office, which I found to be strange because I already had an appointment to see him in another week´s time. The woman on the other side of the phone line told me that the surgeon needed to speak with me, and wanted me to come into his office as soon as possible. Ah oh, not again.
When I walked into the surgeon´s office the very next day, I was told that I was one of the unfortunate ten percent of people who needed to have surgery of the thyroid gland twice. During the first surgery, the surgeon sent a sample from the other nodule ( the one which was inconclusive) to have tested, and it also came back positive for the same variant of cancer.
I had my second surgery 6 months later because I wasn´t sure that I wanted to go through another surgery.
Monday, November 3, 2008
After Cancer: My Story... Part 3
When I visited my family physician to receive the results from the Uptake test, I felt a little worried that it was going to be bad news.
The doctor told me that the Uptake test was inconclusive because it was showing many red and blue areas, and that The Nuclear Medicine Department recommended redoing the test. My doctor thought it would be better that I go in for a biopsy instead.
When I heard BIOPSY, I was nearly floored. This word is always associated with cancer, and of course, that was the first thing that popped into my head.
The doctor explained what the biopsy entailed, and also told me that the biopsy was a precautionary measure. "I want to be sure that it is just a nodule, and nothing else". He said.
I walked into the same ultra sound cubicle that I had been in not so long ago, and was met by a doctor. There, on the table, beside the sonography machine, was some rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and the syringe.
The test itself wasn´t very painful. Not very pleasant, but not too painful.
Because the nodules were small.. one was 4 mm and the other 5 mm.. it did take some time for the doctor to get a sample. I walked out of the cubicle in about twenty minutes with a bandage on my neck.
The first test was inconclusive, and the biopsy was repeated a week later.
One day after having the second biopsy, my family doctor´s office called me and told me to come in right away. It was right then that I knew that it wasn´t good news.
The next day, my doctor confirmed that indeed one of those nodules was cancer, and the other came back as inconclusive. The left lobe tumor consisted of two types of cancer, follicular and papillary carcinoma.
"You need surgery". He said.
He called the surgeon and endocrinologist from his office and set up an appointment for the very next day.
The doctor told me that the Uptake test was inconclusive because it was showing many red and blue areas, and that The Nuclear Medicine Department recommended redoing the test. My doctor thought it would be better that I go in for a biopsy instead.
When I heard BIOPSY, I was nearly floored. This word is always associated with cancer, and of course, that was the first thing that popped into my head.
The doctor explained what the biopsy entailed, and also told me that the biopsy was a precautionary measure. "I want to be sure that it is just a nodule, and nothing else". He said.
I walked into the same ultra sound cubicle that I had been in not so long ago, and was met by a doctor. There, on the table, beside the sonography machine, was some rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and the syringe.
The test itself wasn´t very painful. Not very pleasant, but not too painful.
Because the nodules were small.. one was 4 mm and the other 5 mm.. it did take some time for the doctor to get a sample. I walked out of the cubicle in about twenty minutes with a bandage on my neck.
The first test was inconclusive, and the biopsy was repeated a week later.
One day after having the second biopsy, my family doctor´s office called me and told me to come in right away. It was right then that I knew that it wasn´t good news.
The next day, my doctor confirmed that indeed one of those nodules was cancer, and the other came back as inconclusive. The left lobe tumor consisted of two types of cancer, follicular and papillary carcinoma.
"You need surgery". He said.
He called the surgeon and endocrinologist from his office and set up an appointment for the very next day.
Friday, October 31, 2008
After Cancer: My Story... Part 2
In early 2003, I went to see my doctor because I was again having symptoms of hypothyroidism and thought that perhaps my dosage needed to be increased.
Along with sending me for blood tests, the doctor also had me do an ultra sound of the thyroid gland to make sure that all was okay.
I walked into one of the ultra sound cubicles of the hospital and was told to lay down and relax. I was relaxed. Was not afraid at all. The technician began by placing a small white towel between my neck and the lovely blue hospital gown I was wearing. She then put gel on the thyroid area, and began the test. She said not to worry, that this test did not hurt.
A few minutes into the test, the technician said that she would be right back... that she needed to confer with a doctor. Ah Oh, was the first thing that ran through my mind, as a whole bunch of feelings started shooting up through my entire body, and lodged themselves into my brain. The thought of cancer was what hit me first. I tried to tell myself not to worry, but that command was futile.
The technician came into the cubicle with a doctor. The doctor sat down at the machine and began sliding the slippery ultra sound thingy along the same area that seemed to interest the technician just moments earlier.
several minutes of this, and I was told that I could leave.
I wiped off the gel and began my way to the other side of the curtain. The technician told me that the results would be sent to my family doctor within a few days.
Three days later, I received a telephone call from my doctor, and was told that I needed to come into his office. I was there the very next day.
My doctor told me that two nodules had been found on my thyroid gland.. One nodule on the left lobe and one on the right. He said not to worry too much, that this was a common thing and that it usually turned out to be nothing. He also told me that to make sure, he wanted to send me for an Uptake test.
An Uptake test involves going into the hospital in the morning, where the patient is given a radio active iodine pill, and is told to return to the same area in three hours. The patient is then put in front of a scanner. This machine measures hot and cold nodules. If they are hot.. that´s good, if they are cold... not so good, but nothing affirmative.
hot nodules mean that the thyroid took up the iodine in the pill.. that´s one of the functions of the thyroid gland.. to absorb iodine. This means that the nodule consists of thyroid tissue.
cold nodules tells the doctor that it is not thyroid tissue and more tests need to be done.
A few days after having my Uptake test, I again received a telephone call from my doctor, and was again told that I needed to come into his office.
Along with sending me for blood tests, the doctor also had me do an ultra sound of the thyroid gland to make sure that all was okay.
I walked into one of the ultra sound cubicles of the hospital and was told to lay down and relax. I was relaxed. Was not afraid at all. The technician began by placing a small white towel between my neck and the lovely blue hospital gown I was wearing. She then put gel on the thyroid area, and began the test. She said not to worry, that this test did not hurt.
A few minutes into the test, the technician said that she would be right back... that she needed to confer with a doctor. Ah Oh, was the first thing that ran through my mind, as a whole bunch of feelings started shooting up through my entire body, and lodged themselves into my brain. The thought of cancer was what hit me first. I tried to tell myself not to worry, but that command was futile.
The technician came into the cubicle with a doctor. The doctor sat down at the machine and began sliding the slippery ultra sound thingy along the same area that seemed to interest the technician just moments earlier.
several minutes of this, and I was told that I could leave.
I wiped off the gel and began my way to the other side of the curtain. The technician told me that the results would be sent to my family doctor within a few days.
Three days later, I received a telephone call from my doctor, and was told that I needed to come into his office. I was there the very next day.
My doctor told me that two nodules had been found on my thyroid gland.. One nodule on the left lobe and one on the right. He said not to worry too much, that this was a common thing and that it usually turned out to be nothing. He also told me that to make sure, he wanted to send me for an Uptake test.
An Uptake test involves going into the hospital in the morning, where the patient is given a radio active iodine pill, and is told to return to the same area in three hours. The patient is then put in front of a scanner. This machine measures hot and cold nodules. If they are hot.. that´s good, if they are cold... not so good, but nothing affirmative.
hot nodules mean that the thyroid took up the iodine in the pill.. that´s one of the functions of the thyroid gland.. to absorb iodine. This means that the nodule consists of thyroid tissue.
cold nodules tells the doctor that it is not thyroid tissue and more tests need to be done.
A few days after having my Uptake test, I again received a telephone call from my doctor, and was again told that I needed to come into his office.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
After Cancer: My Story... part one
When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in March of 2003, I was told that I should be happy that it was thyroid cancer because thyroid cancer is considered by most doctors to be the most easily treated cancer around. 95% cure rate, they said.. that´s pretty good.
I guess the doctors were right in many ways, but I couldn´t help feeling like a 50 pound sac of potatoes had just been dropped on top of my head. Being diagnosed with cancer is not what most people strive for on this planet.
My journey actually began much earlier than 2003. The roller coaster ride began in 1997.
In November of 1997, I began having severe pain just below my breast bone. I visited the emergency room twice, before being told that what I was having was a gallstone attack.. The pain didn´t present itself in the usual way, under the right side of the ribcage, and therefore was a little more difficult to diagnose. The ultrasound and blood tests did confirm that it was gallstones. On December 17, 1997, I had my gallbladder removed and the pain stopped.
In the spring of 1998, I began feeling ´not very well´and visited my family doctor. I was having problems with feeling nauseous at every waking moment. Eating would aggravate the nausea, and I hadn´t had anything to eat for three days when I visited the doctor.
After many tests and visiting various specialists and living on salt crackers and water for several weeks, they found that I had a severe stomach infection. This infection was successfully treated with a two week dose of three different types of antibiotics. I could once again eat without being afraid.
Later that same year, I again began having health issues and went back to visit my physician, who I must say was very good and patient with me. I just wasn´t feeling right. I felt energy-less and disinterested, and in all honesty.. I just felt sick and tired about being sick and tired. I know this is a cliche, but it describes my feelings pretty well.
He sent me for blood tests, and everything came back ´normal´. My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was well within normal range at 3.7 ( normal range in Canada at that time was .5-5.0) The doctor said, this number is within normal range, Lets wait and see if you start feeling better. If you still feel the same in two weeks, come back to see me.
Two weeks later, I was back in his office. I wasn´t feeling any better, and was sure that he must think that I was a hypochondriac, but instead told me that he would like to try treating me for hypothyroidism.
I was put on a small dosage of synthroid. Synthroid is a synthetic version thyroxine (t4), and is the first drug of choice by many doctors to combat hypothyroidism.
Within three days, I began feeling much much better, and continued on the regimen for the following four years without any problems.
I guess the doctors were right in many ways, but I couldn´t help feeling like a 50 pound sac of potatoes had just been dropped on top of my head. Being diagnosed with cancer is not what most people strive for on this planet.
My journey actually began much earlier than 2003. The roller coaster ride began in 1997.
In November of 1997, I began having severe pain just below my breast bone. I visited the emergency room twice, before being told that what I was having was a gallstone attack.. The pain didn´t present itself in the usual way, under the right side of the ribcage, and therefore was a little more difficult to diagnose. The ultrasound and blood tests did confirm that it was gallstones. On December 17, 1997, I had my gallbladder removed and the pain stopped.
In the spring of 1998, I began feeling ´not very well´and visited my family doctor. I was having problems with feeling nauseous at every waking moment. Eating would aggravate the nausea, and I hadn´t had anything to eat for three days when I visited the doctor.
After many tests and visiting various specialists and living on salt crackers and water for several weeks, they found that I had a severe stomach infection. This infection was successfully treated with a two week dose of three different types of antibiotics. I could once again eat without being afraid.
Later that same year, I again began having health issues and went back to visit my physician, who I must say was very good and patient with me. I just wasn´t feeling right. I felt energy-less and disinterested, and in all honesty.. I just felt sick and tired about being sick and tired. I know this is a cliche, but it describes my feelings pretty well.
He sent me for blood tests, and everything came back ´normal´. My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was well within normal range at 3.7 ( normal range in Canada at that time was .5-5.0) The doctor said, this number is within normal range, Lets wait and see if you start feeling better. If you still feel the same in two weeks, come back to see me.
Two weeks later, I was back in his office. I wasn´t feeling any better, and was sure that he must think that I was a hypochondriac, but instead told me that he would like to try treating me for hypothyroidism.
I was put on a small dosage of synthroid. Synthroid is a synthetic version thyroxine (t4), and is the first drug of choice by many doctors to combat hypothyroidism.
Within three days, I began feeling much much better, and continued on the regimen for the following four years without any problems.
Monday, October 27, 2008
After cancer
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THYROID CANCER IN 2003, AND THUS BEGAN MY JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN WORLD OF THE AFTER CANCER LIFE.
WHERE IS THE THYROID GLAND?
The thyroid is a small gland that is located in the front of the neck, just below the larynx, and is wrapped around the trachea (windpipe).
The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly. It consists of two lobes, a right and a left lobe which are divided by the center, called the isthmus.
WHAT IS THYROID CANCER?
Thyroid cancer, like all cancers, is a change at the cellular level which causes the cells to grow in an uncontrolled manner.
The term for growths on the thyroid gland are usually referred to as nodules.
It is important to note that not all nodules are cancer, and in fact tend to be benign ( not cancer). Thyroid nodules are very prominent amongst us, and most people live a full life without ever knowing that they have nodules. Only 5 percent of nodules are cancerous in the adult population. When thyroid nodules are found in children, there is a much higher percentage that those nodules are cancerous.
Thyroid cancer is divided into four types, papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
Papillary carcinoma is the most common form of thyroid cancer. It is a slow growing cancer which reacts well to treatment.
Follicular carcinoma is less common than papillary, and although it is also a slow growing cancer, it does grow at a faster rate.
Medullary is a rare type of cancer. It grows much more rapidly than do the papillary and follicular carcinomas.
Anaplastic cancer is the worse of the four. It is a rare cancer that spreads very quickly with a very bad prognosis.
Symptoms
Thyroid cancer does not usually cause symptoms in it´s early stages. In it´s later stages, it usually presents itself as a lump on the thyroid area. difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, swollen lymph glands or pain in the throat or neck area that does not go away.
Diagnosis
Although there are several different tests to help diagnose thyroid cancer, there is only one way to accurately diagnose if indeed that nodule is cancerous, and that is by biopsy.
Fine needle aspiration, or FNA is how a doctor takes a piece of tissue from the thyroid gland for definite diagnosis.
This test is usually done with the assistance of sonography (ultra sound). A small needle is inserted into the thyroid gland via the neck.
Radio active uptake test, ultrasound, blood tests all help in the diagnosis, but are not affirmative.
Treatment
Treatment of thyroid cancer begins with removal of either the entire gland or one lobe.
Depending on the type and size of the cancer, you may require radioactive iodine therapy or radiation.
In cases where the cancer is advanced and in-operable, radiation is the first treatment.
Prognosis
Prognosis for thyroid cancer, with the exception of anaplastic and later stages medullary cancer is very good with a 95% cure rate after treatment.
NEXT POST: MY STORY
WHERE IS THE THYROID GLAND?
The thyroid is a small gland that is located in the front of the neck, just below the larynx, and is wrapped around the trachea (windpipe).
The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly. It consists of two lobes, a right and a left lobe which are divided by the center, called the isthmus.
WHAT IS THYROID CANCER?
Thyroid cancer, like all cancers, is a change at the cellular level which causes the cells to grow in an uncontrolled manner.
The term for growths on the thyroid gland are usually referred to as nodules.
It is important to note that not all nodules are cancer, and in fact tend to be benign ( not cancer). Thyroid nodules are very prominent amongst us, and most people live a full life without ever knowing that they have nodules. Only 5 percent of nodules are cancerous in the adult population. When thyroid nodules are found in children, there is a much higher percentage that those nodules are cancerous.
Thyroid cancer is divided into four types, papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
Papillary carcinoma is the most common form of thyroid cancer. It is a slow growing cancer which reacts well to treatment.
Follicular carcinoma is less common than papillary, and although it is also a slow growing cancer, it does grow at a faster rate.
Medullary is a rare type of cancer. It grows much more rapidly than do the papillary and follicular carcinomas.
Anaplastic cancer is the worse of the four. It is a rare cancer that spreads very quickly with a very bad prognosis.
Symptoms
Thyroid cancer does not usually cause symptoms in it´s early stages. In it´s later stages, it usually presents itself as a lump on the thyroid area. difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, swollen lymph glands or pain in the throat or neck area that does not go away.
Diagnosis
Although there are several different tests to help diagnose thyroid cancer, there is only one way to accurately diagnose if indeed that nodule is cancerous, and that is by biopsy.
Fine needle aspiration, or FNA is how a doctor takes a piece of tissue from the thyroid gland for definite diagnosis.
This test is usually done with the assistance of sonography (ultra sound). A small needle is inserted into the thyroid gland via the neck.
Radio active uptake test, ultrasound, blood tests all help in the diagnosis, but are not affirmative.
Treatment
Treatment of thyroid cancer begins with removal of either the entire gland or one lobe.
Depending on the type and size of the cancer, you may require radioactive iodine therapy or radiation.
In cases where the cancer is advanced and in-operable, radiation is the first treatment.
Prognosis
Prognosis for thyroid cancer, with the exception of anaplastic and later stages medullary cancer is very good with a 95% cure rate after treatment.
NEXT POST: MY STORY
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