Symptoms and Prevention of Thyroid Cancer

Symptoms and Prevention of Thyroid Cancer

The treatment for thyroid cancer usually depends on the type and stage of thyroid cancer, your state of physical well being and your preference for treatment.

But before you could panic any type of thyroid cancer can be diagnosed if the preventative measures of thyroid cancer are taken at the earlier stage of cancer. There are chances of the cancer to relapse, hence precaution has to be taken even after the treatment is done.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer
The most common symptoms of thyroid cancer are swelling or lump in the neck or ear pain or have difficulty swallowing or even breathing. This can be accompanied by an ongoing cough, wheezing or a hoarse throat.

Many people who are affected with thyroid cancer show no sign but a lump is usually found by the doctor during the test. He would look for any unusual lump that seems cancerous with a biopsy.

Treatment for thyroid cancer
The treatment focuses on eliminating the cancerous cells in your body. The treatment of thyroid cancer mostly depends on the stage, age, and general health of the patient. Usually, the doctor would suggest surgery to remove the thyroid gland.

The doctors may not know if it is cancerous or not until the lump has been removed. Surgery may be followed by an injection of radioactive iodine. This will terminate any leftover tissues of the thyroid cancer in the gland. Thyroid hormone medication will be needed even after the thyroid cancer has been removed. Sometimes the medication might be needed for the rest of the patient’s life. The medicine is for hormone production which acts as a preventative measure of thyroid cancer throughout.

Preventive measures for thyroid cancer
The first step towards taking preventative measures of thyroid cancer is by knowing the family history, gender, and age. As it is curable at the earliest stages of cancer, a thyroid cancer test is done through blood tests looking for inherited cell mutations.

  • Talk with your doctor and voice your concerns.
  • Understand that the doctor needs a clear picture before treating any condition.
  • A healthy diet that includes iodine foods and routine health checks can help prevent it.
  • Although both genders are susceptible, it affects women of all ages.
  • It may be due to a lack of thyroid hormone, which protects against cancer.

In some cases, preventative measures of thyroid cancer might turn ineffective; in such situations, the following steps may reduce or terminate the risk of thyroid cancer.

Eating a healthy diet
Vitamin and mineral-rich food that are present in fruits and vegetables reduce any type of cancer risks. It is suggested that the intake of fruits and vegetables at a minimum of five servings in a day can help reduce the risk of cancer. Meat with less fat and unsaturated fats present in fish, especially those found in salmon and mackerel might help fight against the risk of cancer. Keeping the weight on check is also another important aspect to protect yourself against many diseases, including thyroid cancer.

Prophylactic Surgery
Even if you do not have a family history of cancer, minor changes in the particular gene may also increase the risk of thyroid cancer. The patient can choose to have the thyroid removed as a preventative measure of thyroid cancer from developing further.