By [email protected] December 31, 2010 - 6:29pm

The four types of thyroid cancer and their characteristics are:

PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER
-begins in the papillary cells
-most common
-makes up about 70-80% of thyroid cancers
-can occur at any age
-tends to grow slowly and to spread first to lymph glands in neck
-diagnosed early people can be cured

FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER
-begins in the follicular cells
-makes up about 10- 15 % of the thyroid cancers
-found more in older patients
-can grow into lymph nodes
-grows slowly
-when detected early can be cured

MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER
-begins in C cells
-makes up about 5-10% of thyroid cancer
-usually associated with other endocrine problems
-this type can be diagnosed by genetic testing of the blood cells
-grows slowly
easier to control if found and treated before it spreads

ANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER
-begins in follicular cells
-makes up 2-5% of thyroid cancers
-found in patients over 45 years of age
-grows and spreads fast
-very hard to control
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References:

American Thyroid Association website-the online thyroid cancer brochure

National Cancer Institute Website-the Thyroid Cancer Page