Thyroid Cancer: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. In the United States, about 44,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer, with approximately 2,170 deaths anticipated from the disease. This type of cancer is more common in women than men and is often diagnosed at a younger age compared to other adult cancers. The big question is, how can you recognize it? Let’s find out together…

It doesn’t have to be thyroid cancer, read about other thyroid problems here: Thyroid Problems: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

What Is Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer happens when cells in your thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, start growing in a way they’re not supposed to. Your thyroid is super important. It makes hormones that help control your energy levels, body temperature, and how your body uses food for fuel. When cancer develops, it means some of the cells in the thyroid have started to grow too much or abnormally. This can create lumps or growths in the gland, but your thyroid does its job in many cases, at least in the early stages.

How Is This Type of Cancer Caused?

This cancer can happen for different reasons, and it depends on the type of thyroid cancer you’re talking about:

1. Papillary Thyroid Cancer – most common type: This usually happens because of changes (mutations) in the DNA of the thyroid cells. These changes might be linked to things like radiation exposure, but sometimes they just happen randomly.
2. Follicular Thyroid Cancer: This type can also be linked to DNA changes, often affecting how your thyroid cells grow and divide. Sometimes, it’s connected to not getting enough iodine in your diet.
3. Medullary Thyroid Cancer: This is a rarer type and can sometimes run in families. It’s caused by specific genetic changes that you might inherit from your parents.
4. Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer – very rare and aggressive: Scientists aren’t 100% sure why this type of cancer occurs, but it’s often linked to a buildup of mutations in the thyroid cells over time.

Overall, this type of cancer happens when the cells in your thyroid start to behave abnormally, often because of changes in their DNA. Some causes are related to genetics, while others seem to just happen without a clear reason. Do you want to know how you can recognize this type of cancer? Continue reading on the next page.