Definition
Thyroid cancer is cancer of the thyroid gland. This gland makes thyroid hormone. It is found in the front of the neck. Thyroid gland tumors often appear as bumps in the neck, called nodules. In most cases, thyroid nodules are not cancerous. Those that are cancerous have the potential to spread throughout the body.
Thyroid Cancer
There are several types of thyroid cancer, including:
Papillary carcinoma—most common type
- It usually grows very slowly, and often spreads to lymph nodes in the neck. If caught early, this type of thyroid cancer is often curable.
Follicular carcinoma—second most common type
- It usually stays in the thyroid gland but can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and bones. It does not usually spread to the lymph nodes. If caught early, this type of thyroid cancer is often curable.
Anaplastic carcinoma—rare form of thyroid cancer
- It quickly invades the neck and other parts of the body, and is often fatal.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)—cancer that develops from cells in the thyroid gland called C-cells
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It often spreads to the lymph nodes, lungs, or liver before a thyroid nodule has been discovered. There are two types of MTC:
- Sporadic MTC
- Familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC)
Thyroid lymphoma—rare type of thyroid cancer
- Many cases occur in people who have a disease called Hashimoto's thyroiditis .
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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