Thyroid Cancer Essay - 1987 Words

The thyroid gland is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adams apple, wrapped around the trachea. It has the shape of a butterfly with two lobes attached to one another by a middle part called the isthmus. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine†¦show more content†¦Follicular tumors, on the other hand, grow only on one side of the gland. These tumors develop in the hormone-producing cells and account for 30% - 50% of all thyroid cancers (Thackery 1057). Medullary thyroid tumors acco unt for 5% - 7% of all thyroid cancers, and are usually uncommon. Like papillary tumors, they grow on one or both sides of the gland. Anaplastic tumors, though extremely rare, develop on either side of the thyroid gland and spread rapidly to other parts of the body. It account for only 2% of all thyroid cancers but is the fastest growing, and most aggressive thyroid cancer type (Thackery 1057). The aggressiveness of each type of thyroid cancer is different. There are four main stages in each of the types of thyroid cancer except for anaplastic cancer (Rubin 91). In the stage I of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, the cancer is located only in the thyroid and may be found in one or both of the lobes. In stage II if the patients are younger than 45 years of age, the cancer has spread beyond the thyroid. But if the patient is older than 45 years of age, the cancer is only in the thyroid and is larger than 1 centimeter. In stage III, the cancer is usually found in patients older than 45 years of age and has spread outside of the thyroid or has spread to the lymph nodes but not outside of the neck. In stage IV, the cancer is again usually found in patients over the age of 45. It most likely has spread to other parts of theShow MoreRelatedThyroid Cancer Essay989 Words   |  4 PagesThyroid Cancer is a thyroid neoplasm that develops in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland consists of two large lobes that are connected by the isthmus and is located below the larynx on both sides of the trachea. The gland secretes hormones from the hypothalamus that may be stored in the colloid or released into the blood in capillaries. In the endocrine system, the thyroid gland secretes hormones that act on cells with specific receptors called target cells. When cancer develops in the thyroidRead MoreCauses And Treatments Of Thyroid Cancer1656 Words   |  7 Pagesof choice is thyroid cancer. Recently my mother was diagnosed with this cancer so doing research can help me better understand what it is, what causes its occurrence, and what lifestyle changes it will bring. Having taken anatomy physiology I know the importance of this gland. This is a gland that has functions to many other organs including the heart, brain, liver, and more. Going into the DMS program I can learn to identify spots on the thyroid and use the knowledge of this cancer to in my careerRead M oreThe Incidence Of Thyroid Cancer2648 Words   |  11 PagesThe incidence of thyroid cancer is rapidly rising in the US accounting for 62,980 cases with 1890 deaths every year[1]. It is the seventh most common cancer diagnosed in women and peaks earlier than in men. Despite its high prevalence, death rate from thyroid cancer is fairly stable from past many years. In general, thyroid cancer offers a good prognosis with an overall survival rate of approximately 90%[2]. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) termed as differentiatedRead MoreAnatomy And Physiology : Thyroid Cancer4045 Words   |  17 PagesTHYROID CANCER 1 Thyroid Cancer Nicholas M. Madathilate Anatomy and Physiology, Period 6 Pine View School 16 December 2014 THYROID CANCER 2 What is thyroid cancer, and is it dangerous? To answer this one must first know the function of the thyroid. A thyroid is a gland at the front of the neck right under the soundRead MoreClinical Trials And Thyroid Cancer1254 Words   |  6 PagesTrials and Thyroid Cancer: Thyroid cancer is often recurrent and difficult to treat. As a result, patients have been taking part in clinical trials of new and innovative treatments. Clinical trials are defined as carefully controlled research studies that are done with volunteer patients. Differentiated thyroid cancer, as explained in a previous section, can be divided into papillary, follicular, and Hà ¼rthle cell arising from follicular cells. The hallmark of follicular thyroid cells is theRead MoreAiding The Fight Against Thyroid Cancer1256 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Fight Against Thyroid Cancer: One Throat At a Time. WARNING: The following information may be hard to swallow. â€Å"The American Cancer Society predict[ed] 62,450 people w[ould] be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2015† (2). Though this amount is relatively small, patients can always find comfort and assistance in organizations such as the American Thyroid Association (ATA). â€Å"The ATA is the leading organization focused on thyroid biology and the prevention and treatment of thyroid disorders. PerformedRead MoreThyroid Cancer : A Common Endocrine Malignant Tumor Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pages Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignant tumor (1). Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common of the well-differentiated carcinomas (85%) (2) and is characterized by distinctive nuclear features. Most thyroid tumors can be readily diagnosed using histopathologic criteria, which allow the pathologist to differentiate benign from malignant lesions and guarantee an accurate classification for the majority of the variants of carcinomas derived from follicular epithelial cells. HoweverRead MoreThyroid Cancer1994 Words   |  8 PagesThe thyroid gland is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adams apple, wrapped around the trachea. It has the shape of a butterfly with twoRead MoreDiscussion Medullary thyroid cancer is an indolent neuroendocrine tumor that frequently presents500 Words   |  2 PagesDiscussion Medullary thyroid cancer is an indolent neuroendocrine tumor that frequently presents with disseminated disease. While locally advanced tumor in the neck and mediastinum can be treated with surgery either for palliative or curative intent, distant metastases are not often amenable to operative excision. Metastatic MTC has a similarly poor response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Viable therapeutic options for distant metastatic disease are still absent. Survival rate after discoveryRead MoreThyroid Cancer Case Study749 Words   |  3 PagesThyroid cancer can be present in two forms, papillary and follicular. Fortunately, we know a great deal about follicular thyroid cancer because it is most common. Papillary cancer can be present in the well differentiated form or poorly differentiated form. We know from previous studies and cases that the well differentiated form can be treated with radioactive iodine therapy and surgical removal, but the poorly differentiated form cannot be tre ated with this method. Mutations in the PI3K/AKT signaling