Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the thyroid gland located in the lower part of the neck. The thyroid is an organ that controls weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-cancer/DS00492

Thyroid cancer is a fairly uncommon disease in the U.S. compared to other cancers, but rates have been increasing over the years. It is mostly a mystery as to what causes thyroid cancer, but gene mutations may play a role, as well as exposure to radiation.http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/thyroid-cancer-cause

There are four different types of thyroid cancer.http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid Medullary and Anaplastic thyroid cancer are the least common, while Papillary and Follicular thyroid cancer are present in between 80% and 90% of cases. Medullary cancer is fairly easy to control and multiplies in the C cells. Anaplastic cancer, on the other hand, is difficult to detect and control, and is found in follicular cells. The two more common types of thyroid cancer also develop in the follicular cells, but instead are slow-growing, making it easier to treat.http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_cancer/article.htm

The most common treatment method for thyroid cancer is surgery. This is done to either remove all or part of the cancer infected thyroid. Sometimes lymph nodes are also removed.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-cancer/DS00492/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs If surgery isn't successful in taking out all of the cancer, then other methods will be implemented. Radioactive iodine or hormone therapy are often done after surgery to take care of any remaining cancer. Also, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are sometimes utilized as treatment methods.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroidcancer.html

• The Thyroid Blog: Thyroid Cancer Blog

• The Cancer Blog: Thyroid Cancer

• OnTopofCancer.org: Group Chat and Discussion Board

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