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Thyroid Cancer
- Days In Hospital 5 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 10 days
- Success Rate 75%
Minimum Cost
$ 2000
Maximum Cost.
$ 5000
Overview of Thyroid Cancer in India
The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck and produces hormones that regulate body temperature, blood pressure and metabolic processes. When there is uncontrolled growth of cells in the thyroid gland it can result in development of Thyroid Cancer and other common symptoms such as fever and indigestion associated with abnormal cell growth in the thyroid area.
There are three major categories of Thyroid Cancer: Medullary, Differentiated and Anaplastic. In the case of small tumours, it may be possible to monitor their growth and determine whether or not to provide treatment.
Multiple treatment options are superior to one option at a time. Cancer, like other diseases, responds best when diagnosed early; therefore, if the cancer is diagnosed early enough, it is highly likely that it can be completely treated and eradicated. However, if the disease is detected at a later stage, the chances of full recovery from the disease will be reduced significantly.
It has also been noted that in some cases after a patient has been treated for a specific type of cancer, the same type of cancer can reappear either at the same site or at a different site, and this recurrence does not necessarily mean that the new site is related to the previous site at which the cancer was treated. Because of this phenomenon, patients need to have regular follow-up screening after they have completed their cancer treatment to ensure they do not have a new cancer developing elsewhere. Women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. The incidence rates for men and women in India are 3.9 and 1.3, respectively.
What Is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer originates in the thyroid gland, which is located at the lower part of the neck area and are shaped like butterflies. It produces various hormones which regulate energy usage within the body. Thyroids also assist with controlling temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
There are nearly forty-four thousand American citizens diagnosed with thyroid cancer annually. Most cases may be treated and cured; however, each individual contains particular reasons why they received their diagnosis and what type of thyroid tumor they were diagnosed with and the stage at which they were diagnosed with regards to how aggressive the tumor may have been.
Types of Thyroid Cancer:
Various Types of Thyroid Cancer
Papillary Thyroid Cancer - The most common form of thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer impacts both young children and females. It can be associated with a prior history of radiation therapy to the head or neck. While inherited factors play a minor role in the development of papillary thyroid cancer, most cases are due to environmental factors. Papillary thyroid cancer is also known as a well-differentiated thyroid cancer and has an exceptional cure rate when treated properly.
Follicular Thyroid Cancer - Follicular thyroid cancer is the second most common form of thyroid cancer. Like papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer is also a well-differentiated thyroid cancer, but it poses a slightly higher risk of metastasis than papillary thyroid cancer.
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer - Anaplastic thyroid cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of thyroid cancer. Most patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer have had a thyroid nodule for an extended period before diagnosis, which often leads to a more advanced stage of the disease. Because of the aggressive nature of anaplastic thyroid cancer, it tends to spread rapidly in both the local region and to distant sites.
Medullary Thyroid Cancer - Medullary thyroid cancer is a minority form of thyroid cancer. As a significant proportion of patients have a genetic predisposition for this cancer, cases are occurring in children less than age 12. Early surgical intervention has shown to yield excellent results.
Hurthle Cell Cancer - In addition to being referred to as Hurthle cell carcinoma and oxyphilic cell carcinoma, Hurthle cell cancer arises from large follicular cells (known as "Hurthle cells") within thyroid tissue, which contain abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm (the cytoplasm of these cells stains pink). Although a minor percentage of thyroid cancers fall under hurthle cell carcinoma classification, hurthle cell cancer is considered as a variant type of differentiated thyroid cancer.
Procedure:
When treating thyroid cancer, the type of cancer, disease stage, and patient age are important factors for doctors to consider when determining a treatment plan. The following are treatment options for thyroid cancer offered in India:
Surgery
Lobectomy: Lobectomy is a procedure that removes the lobe of the thyroid gland that contains cancer and some of the normal tissue from the middle of the two lobes.
Total thyroidectomy: Total thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland, and represents the most common surgical intervention for thyroid cancer.
Lymph node removal: If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes located near the thyroid gland, the surgeon will remove those lymph nodes along with the cancerous tissue.
Robotic Surgery on Thyroid Gland
Using a Robot to assist with Thyroid Surgery may allow for Thyroid cancer surgery with an improved Cosmetic appearance by preventing any visible scars from appearing on the neck during Thyroid Surgery. Robotic Thyroid surgery can be performed by three methods: an incision behind the ear, through the armpit, and through the mouth.
Treatment using Radioactive Iodine
The use of Radioactive Iodine Scans and Radioactive Iodine treatments are important components of post-operative treatment of Thyroid Cancer for patients that have well-differentiated types of Thyroid Cancer. Radioactive Iodine is used to treat patients one month after their Tyroid Cancer Surgery and is administered at scheduled intervals as determined by the patient’s individual need.
As a part of preparing the patient for Radioactive Iodine scanning, patients must take a break from their thyroid replacement medications and may experience a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue and weakness during this process. Patients also have the option of having their Radioactive Iodine Scanning done using Recombinant TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) instead of waiting until the patient has stopped taking their thyroid replacement medications and experiencing symptoms associated with stopping these medications.
Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is an integral part of treating thyroid cancer. This treatment is routinely given to patients whose thyroid has been surgically removed. Additionally, dose adjustments to maintain serum TSH within the desired range assists in controlling the growth of breast and/or prostate cancer. In addition, thyroid hormone replacement therapy helps to prevent the recurrence of breast or prostate cancers.
Active Surveillance
Because all thyroid cancers have a good prognosis, some selected thyroid cancer patients may be closely monitored rather than treated with surgery or other medical therapies (i.e., active surveillance). Intervention may be necessary if changes occur in the clinical characteristics of the disease.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the administration of anti-cancer medications through a vein (or muscle). Anti-cancer medications travel through the blood stream and target all parts of the cancer, effectively killing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is typically given for advanced stage thyroid cancer patients, especially patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
External Radiation Therapy
External radiation, also known as external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), is a viable option in select cases of thyroid cancer in which radioiodine uptake is poor or where bone metastases exist.
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Cost of Thyroid Cancer in India
In India, the average cost of treating thyroid cancer is between $1879 and $3353.13. The hospital's facilities, the patient's health, and the cancer's stage can all affect the expense of therapy. A small amount could change depending on the city.
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Indications of Thyroid Cancer:
The common signs and symptoms related to thyroid carcinoma include the following:
Presence of a Lump in the Neck
Difficulty Breathing
Difficulty Eating
Persistent Cough
Neck Pain Radiating to the Face
Change in Voice
Neck Swelling from Tumor Growth
Feeling Tired
Weight Loss
Fever
Loss of Appetite
Irritability
Constipation
Nausea
Sense of Shirt Collar Tightness.
Thyroid cancer diagnosis generally requires an extensive workup that includes many different types of medical testing and procedures. Some primary aspects of the diagnostic process include:
Physical Examination
A trained physician will perform a complete physical examination of the neck to identify any irregularities present (e.g., goiter, lump, or other forms of swelling).
Medical History
A critical part of Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis is knowing about the patient's past and their family history of Thyroid Problems (Hypothyroidism), as this information is vital to making a definitive diagnosis.
Laboratory Tests
Laboratory tests may be ordered to evaluate levels of the hormones produced by the Thyroid as well as the function of the Thyroid itself.
Imaging Studies
Ultrasound- The ultrasound scan of the thyroid is most commonly utilized to evaluate the size, shape, and texture of the gland and the presence of nodules.
CT / MRI- Both CT and MRI are utilized to measure the extent of the tumour and help establish whether cancer has spread to surrounding tissues and/or lymph nodes.
PET Scan- Not commonly used but will be required in selected cases.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) is a very simple procedure that obtains small amounts of tissue from the nodule using a small needle. The tissue is then viewed under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
Thyroid Scanning
Thyroid scans use radioactive iodine to visualize the thyroid gland to determine if there are areas of abnormal function.
Genetic Tests
In selected instances, genetic testing will be done in order to determine what specific genetic mutations may be present in the patient regarding their thyroid cancer, especially if there is a known family history of thyroid cancer.
Laryngoscopic Examination
Laryngoscopy allows the clinician to view the patient's vocal cords and assess whether the recurrent laryngeal nerve functions properly to move the vocal cords. It provides insight into the possibility of damage occurring to the vocal cords due to thyroid tumours.
Risk Factors:
The reason most people do develop thyroid cancer has not been determined. Below are some factors that could contribute to an increased risk of thyroid cancer:
Genetics: Hereditary mutations, such as those in the RET or BRAF genes, may increase an individual's risk for developing thyroid cancer.
Radiation Exposure: Childhood exposure to ionising radiation has been identified as one of the associated risk factors for thyroid cancer.
Sex: Thyroid cancer occurs more frequently in females than males, which strongly indicates a possible hormonal relationship.
Age: The incidence of thyroid cancer increases with age, with the majority of cases being diagnosed between 25–65 years of age.
Thyroid Disorders: Certain prior existing conditions that affect the thyroid (e.g. goitre, nodules) may also increase an individual's likelihood of developing thyroid cancer.
Family Medical History: The presence of thyroid cancer within a family, as well as other connected endocrine-type cancers, could increase an individual's chance of developing thyroid cancer.
Iodine Imbalances: An individual may have an inadequate or excessive amount of iodine within their system, both of which can affect the function of the thyroid gland and, in this way, could lead to the development of thyroid cancer.
Environmental Factors: There may be an association between exposure to select toxins and environmental contaminants and thyroid cancer.
Hormonal Factors: Protected hormonal changes - e.g. during pregnancy or from hormonal therapeutic use - may be a factor in developing thyroid cancer.