September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of all the patients who have fought and are currently fighting these diseases, the Paris Charter Against Cancer would like to contribute to the discussion and present some facts about the disease and what you can do to decrease your risk of being diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer.
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is cancer of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the neck. It is responsible for producing and secreting hormones that regulate things such as our metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.
Types of Thyroid Cancer:
- Papillary Thyroid Cancer/Carcinoma: This is the most common type, and accounts for about 80% of cases. It tends to be slow-growing and often affects only one thyroid lobe. This type occurs in adults as well as children.
- Follicular Thyroid Cancer: This is the second most common type, accounting for 10-15% of cases. It often spreads to the lungs or bones.
- Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC): One of the less common types. It accounts for roughly 2-4% of cases. It can be hereditary and can also be associated with genetic syndromes like Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN).
- Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: The rarest and most aggressive form, accounting for less than 2% of cases. It is fast-growing and difficult to treat.
Risk Factors
A number of things can increase your risk of thyroid cancer
- Gender is a risk factor, as women are three times more likely than men to develop thyroid cancer, and at a younger age as well.
- Having an enlarged thyroid (goiter).
- Having a family history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer.
- Having Thyroiditis (inflammation of your thyroid gland).
- Having certain gene mutations, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) or type 2B (MEN2B) syndrome, that are linked to endocrine diseases.
- Having a low iodine intake, as there are links between iodine low diets and developing thyroid cancer.
- Being overweight can increase your risk of thyroid cancer
- Having undergone radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, especially during childhood, increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer
- Being exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons or a power plant accident.
Prevention & Screening
While most times the cause of thyroid cancer is unknown, there are a few things you can do if you believe yourself to be at risk:
- Get genetic testing: As there are links between genetic mutations and thyroid cancer, getting genetically tested can determine if you carry one of the associated mutations. If you find that you possess the mutated gene, preventive (prophylactic) surgery to remove your thyroid gland before cancer develops may be a viable option.
- If you find yourself being exposed to high doses of radiation, taking potassium iodine within 24 hours can reduce your risk of developing thyroid cancer later on in life
Statistics
- Thyroid cancer ranks 7th in incidence, with over 800,000 new cases in 2022
- It ranks 38th in mortality with 47,507 thyroid cancer-associated deaths in 2022
- According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN report, Asia is the most affected region in the world
Graph Showing Incidence and Mortality Rate of the Top 15 Cancer Sites for Both Sexes According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Graph Showing Incidence Rate of the Top 15 Cancer Sites for Both Sexes According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Pie Chart Showing the Incidence Rate of Thyroid Cancer for Both Sexes per World Region According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Pie Chart Showing Mortality Rate of Thyroid Cancer for Both Sexes per World Region According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Pie Chart Showing Number of Prevalent Cases of Thyroid Cancer for Both Sexes per World Region According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
