If there is abnormal iodine intake, a lack of iodine or excessive iodine in the body, it may induce thyroid cancer; When the neck is damaged by radiation and the level of estrogen in the body is too high, this disease can also occur; Thyroid medullary carcinoma also has a clear family history; In addition, if benign thyroid lesions are not treated in a timely manner, they may also develop into cancer. In recent years, the incidence rate of thyroid cancer is increasing year by year. When suffering from this disease, there are often uncomfortable symptoms such as hoarseness, dyspnea, and dysphagia; If not treated in a timely manner, bone metastasis, lung metastasis, liver metastasis, etc. may occur, with a high risk of mortality. The incidence rate of middle-aged women is much higher than that of men, so we should take preventive measures in daily life to reduce the incidence rate of diseases. What are the causes of thyroid cancer? How should thyroid cancer be treated?
1、 Thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, accounting for about 1% of all malignant tumors in the body. According to the pathological type of the tumor, it can be divided into papillary carcinoma, follicular adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma. Among them, papillary carcinoma accounts for about 60% of adult thyroid cancer and all pediatric thyroid adenocarcinoma. The prognosis of papillary carcinoma is the best, the prognosis of undifferentiated carcinoma is the worst, and the prognosis of follicular carcinoma is not as good as papillary carcinoma but better than medullary carcinoma.
2、 The etiology of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is one of the fastest-growing solid cancers in recent years, and its etiology is complex, with some mechanisms possibly related to elevated TSH levels. TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone that regulates the growth of thyroid follicular cells through the cAMP (adenylate cyclase) - mediated signaling pathway. Elevated TSH levels are associated with the development of thyroid cancer. The specific reasons include first iodine deficiency and high iodine diet, and second radiation that destroys the thyroid gland and prevents the production of endocrine hormones, leading to excessive secretion of TSH and promoting the carcinogenesis of thyroid gland cells. The third sex hormone is associated with the occurrence of thyroid cancer in young people. Fourth, other thyroid diseases, nodular goiter, and congenital hypertrophic goiter have not received appropriate treatment for a long time. The fifth family genetic factor is related to thyroid cancer and familial colon polyp disease. Under TSH stimulation, a small number of people may develop thyroid cancer.
3、 Treatment methods for thyroid cancer
1. Surgical treatment
If thyroid cancer is still in its early stages, choosing surgical resection as early as possible may achieve the goal of cure; Even if the condition progresses to the middle and late stages, as long as there are indications for surgery, choosing surgical treatment as much as possible can prolong survival. Depending on the size of the cancer lesion, partial or complete thyroidectomy can be chosen.
2. Endocrine therapy
If thyroid removal surgery is performed, thyroid hormone drugs need to be used for endocrine therapy to prevent hypothyroidism. Generally, this type of medication needs to be taken for life, and thyroid function should be regularly tested during the medication period. The dosage of medication should be adjusted based on the test results.
3. Radioisotope therapy
There are many types of thyroid cancer. If it is papillary adenocarcinoma or follicular adenocarcinoma, especially if local or distant metastasis has occurred, after selecting surgical resection of the cancer lesion, radionuclide therapy is also needed. This treatment method can kill residual cancer cells in the body and prolong survival.
4. External radiation therapy
If undifferentiated thyroid cancer occurs, external radiation therapy can be chosen, especially when there are residual or isolated distant metastases after surgery. Radiation therapy should also be performed after surgery to reduce recurrence rates and prolong life.
A high iodine diet, radiation exposure to the neck, and excessive secretion of estrogen in the body can all trigger thyroid cancer. The disease can occur at any age, and the incidence rate is generally higher among young and middle-aged people. After falling ill, not only will it affect normal life and work, but it may also endanger survival, so it is important to actively cooperate with treatment.