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Q & A:  Dr. Richard Robbins Charles and Ann Duncan Distinguished Endowed Chair The Methodist Hospital Q: What is the thyroid? A: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck (slightly larger than a quarter on each side). It produces hormones that primarily affect overall metabolism, heart rate, body temperature and weight. Diseases that affect the thyroid can cause it to be underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism). With normal aging, nodules begin to appear in the thyroid. The vast majority of these nodules are benign and harmless. Q: What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? A: In the beginning, thyroid cancers are small and cause no symptoms. As the cancer grows, however, symptoms may include:
Thyroid cancer does not usually cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. These local symptoms can often be blamed on noncancerous causes, such as an infection or other health problem. If symptoms last two weeks or longer, however, it is important to consult your health care provider right away.Q: How is thyroid cancer treated? A: Large or suspicious thyroid nodules should be evaluated through a fine-needle biopsy. If the test indicates cancer, most people have surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. After surgery, patients take medication to replace the natural hormones their thyroid produced. If the parathyroid glands, which help control calcium metabolism, are damaged or removed, patients may also need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements. In some cases, thyroid hormone pills are also used as part of the treatment for thyroid cancer, as they slow the growth of thyroid cancer cells that may remain in the body after surgery. Radioactive iodine therapy is also commonly used to help eradicate any small deposits that cannot be surgically removed. Q: Are there any risk factors for developing thyroid cancer? A: Although research has determined that some factors increase the risk of thyroid cancer, most of these factors cannot be controlled. They include:
Most people with these risk factors never develop thyroid cancer, and doctors cannot explain why thyroid cancer strikes some people and not others. The best way to be vigilant against thyroid cancer is to get regular checkups, watch for symptoms and contact your doctor right away if you have concerns. Be sure to ask your doctor to check your neck. * Source: National Cancer Institute, cancer.gov.
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