Thyroid Cancer 1

Running head: Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid Cancer
Chris Misaalefua
UTEP

Thyroid Cancer 2
Abstract

Thyroid Cancer 3
This literature review will take three questions and find many different sources that provide
information on each of these questions. It will help the reader gain a better understanding of what
it is to look for when researching the topic of thyroid cancer. There will be information from the
Thyroid Cancer Association, Cancer Association, and journals from the New York Times. This
will all help the answer the questions in this literature review. Introduction
Thyroid cancer is a form of cancer that is located in the thyroid gland. It can be found in
males or females. Although it is more common in women than it is men, men are not exempt
from being diagnosed with it. In years past this form of cancer has been known to be more
common in the later years of ones life. However, in recent years its not uncommon to see this
cancer in men and women in their twenties. Usually it can be detected through changes in your
sleeping schedule, emotional changes, or even as simple as a lump on the neck. This form of
cancer is appearing in more lives daily; the ages are becoming unpredictable. Most people dont
even know the different types of thyroid cancer, which are papillary, follicular, medullary, and
anaplastic. This is especially evident in the younger generations considering thyroid cancer has
been deemed a cancer diagnosed in older individuals. This lit review will give knowledge from
different resources that will help answer these three questions
1. What is the Thyroid gland and what are the different types of thyroid cancer?
2. What is the survival rate and long term affects of thyroid cancer?
3. What current research is being done to prevent thyroid cancer and how are patients
made aware of the treatment options?
Thyroid cancer, in its many different forms, is often one of the most overlooked types of cancer,
but has been rising in detection in both men and women. These three questions will provide

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insight of how thyroid cancer affects the body, severity and long term effects of individuals
diagnosed, as well as treatment and prevention efforts.
What is the Thyroid gland and what the different types of thyroid cancer?
An article done by Medical News Today gives information on the thyroid and what it
does for the body. From the article titled What Is Thyroid Cancer and What Causes Thyroid
Cancer The thyroid gland is crucial in all mammals. H produces, as well stores, hormones that
control blood pressure, body temp., heart rate, and metabolism. Every cell in our body is
dependent on these hormones. The gland is located below the Adams Apple at the lower part of
the neck. It is It has a butterfly shape, with two lobes (wings) attached to each other by a middle
part. We need iodine, which we get from food, for the thyroid gland to function properly for it to
make its hormones Iodine is needed for proper function of the thyroid gland. C cells also in the
gland produce calcium, a hormone responsible for controlling calcium blood levels, and needed
for bone strength and preventing blood clots. This shows the purpose of the thyroid glands to
the body and how it functions. The different types of thyroid cancer all have a different affect on
the thyroid. According to Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association website, Papillary and
follicular thyroid cancers are referred to as differentiated thyroid cancer, which means that the
cancer cells look and act in some respects like normal thyroid cells This shows the difficulty in
finding these two forms of cancer even If youre taking the right procedure. According to an
article published by Medical News Today, 80% of thyroid cancer is usually diagnosed as
papillary thyroid cancer, common in ages 30-50 but not uncommon in patients in there early
twenties. Follicular thyroid cancer is usually diagnosed in men and ages 50 and up it accounts
for 11% of people with thyroid cancer. There is also Medullary thyroid cancer which,
accounts for about 4% of all cases. Some patients have a genetic fault (mutation) and commonly

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have cancer in other glands as well with this form of cancer. Lastly and most rare, Anaplastic
thyroid cancer, accounts for about 1% or 2% of all cases. It is most commonly diagnosed in
patients over 60 years of age. It is an aggressive cancer. (ThyCa.org) This shows the
percentages that each cancer holds in the total amount of patients that are diagnosed with thyroid
cancer.
What is the survival rate and long term affects of thyroid cancer?
According to ThyCa.org, The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be
about 62,450 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. in 2015... About 1,950 people (1,080
women and 870 men) will die of thyroid cancer in 2015 Thyroid cancer survivor association
shows the toll that thyroid cancer will have on the year 2015 for deaths. In an article on
Endocrine Web In addition to the usual cancer follow up, patients should receive a yearly chest
x-ray as well as thymoglobulin levels. Thymoglobulin is not useful as a screening for initial
diagnosis of thyroid cancer, but it is quite useful in follow up of a well-differentiated carcinoma
(if a total thyroidectomy has been performed). A high serum thymoglobulin level that had
previously been low following total thyroidectomy, especially if gradually increased with TSH
stimulation, is virtually indicative of recurrence From this article people can understand the
importance of following up with your doctor you should also take other precautions to prevent
any chance of thyroid cancer coming back, just because you beat cancer the first time does not
mean it cant come back. Also in a Q&A journal with Dr. Tuttle published by The New York
Times it talks about follow up treatments talked about by Dr. Tuttle in this quote While
levothyroxine (thyroid hormone) is used to suppress the growth of thyroid cancer cells in patients
at risk for recurrence, the dose can be adjusted after one to two years in patients who appear to be
doing well. Most of my patients have the dose lowered to achieve thyroid hormone levels just

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above the normal range, which provides adequate suppression of any unknown microscopic
thyroid cancer while not exposing the body to excessively high levels that could be associated
with rapid heartbeats or softening of the bones over the years (The Long-Term Risk of Thyroid
Cancer) From this quote the reader should understand that there will be some long term
medicine to help reduce any growth of the cancer cells. This graph from my primary research
accurately shows the lack of knowledge when it comes to thyroid cancer.

What current research is being done to prevent thyroid cancer and how are patients made
aware of the treatment options?
On the website ThyCa.org you can find several informative links on the homepage all
with recent news and research that involve thyroid cancer. A recent article, Thyroid Cancer
Diagnoses to Stay About the Same Deaths to Rise in 2015, states the statistics of the cancer and
current death rate. A total of 62,450 people will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2015 in the
United States, slightly fewer than the 62,980 in 2014, while deaths from thyroid cancer will

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increase by 3% to 1,950, up from 1,890 in 2014. (ThyCa.org 01/2015) According to ThyCa.org
the three best treatments for thyroid cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Surgery is the most general treatment for cancer of the thyroid. A doctor may remove the cancer
by one of the following operations: Lobotomy which removes only the side of the thyroid where
the cancer is found. Lymph nodes in the area may be taken out (biopsied) to see if they contain
cancer. Near-total thyroidectomy, removes the entire thyroid except for a small part. Total
thyroidectomy, removes the entire thyroid. Lymph node dissection, removes lymph nodes in the
neck that contain cancer. The second form of treatment is Radiation therapy which uses highenergy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation for cancer of the thyroid may
come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from drinking a liquid that
contains radioactive iodine. Because the thyroid uses iodine, the radioactive iodine collects in
any thyroid tissue remaining in the body and kills the cancer cells. The third form of treatment is
chemotherapy which uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it
may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic
treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer
cells outside the thyroid. Shown here in a small survey of thyroid cancer, 6 women out of 29
choose yes on the question, Do you know the specific types of thyroid cancer? This shows
the audience the importance of self-motivation when it comes to individual health. Thyroid
cancer is not like breast cancer when it comes to advertising so someone would really have to
take it upon their self to become more knowledgeable on the subject.
Conclusion
Thyroid cancer has four different forms: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. They
are located in the thyroid gland. Even though it is more frequent in women than it is men, men

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are not exempt from being diagnosed with it. It was very common to find this cancer in later
years of ones life. Recently its not uncommon to see this cancer in men and women in their
twenties. Usually it can be detected through changes in your sleeping schedule, emotional
changes, or even as simple as a bump on the neck. These forms of thyroid cancer are appearing
in more lives every day; the ages are becoming irregular. Through this lit review I have answered
these 3 questions
1. What is the Thyroid gland and what are the different types of thyroid cancer?
2. What is the survival rate and long term affects of thyroid cancer?
3. What current research is being done to prevent thyroid cancer and how are patients
made aware of the treatment options?
Thyroid cancer, in its many different forms, is one of the most overlooked types of cancer,
but has been rising in detection in both men and women. These three questions will provide
insight of how thyroid cancer affects the body, severity and long term effects of individuals
diagnosed, as well as treatment and prevention efforts. From this lit review people can find the
awareness through these articles.

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Work Cited
York Times, T. (2010, October 26). The Long-Term Risks of Thyroid Cancer. Retrieved July 11,
2015.
Society, A. (2014, February 24). Do we know what causes thyroid cancer? Retrieved July 11,
2015.
Thyroid Cancer - Coping with Side Effects. (2012, June 25). Retrieved July 11, 2015.
About ThyCa. (2015, May 25). Retrieved July 11, 2015.
Norman, James. (03/08/12). Symptoms, Treatments, and Prognosis for Papillary Thyroid
Carcinoma. Endocrine Web. http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/papillarycancer.
Baldwin, Keith. (Aug/19/2014). Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. MedScape.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/282276-overview
Sargis, Robert. (03/23/15). Thyroid Gland Overview. Endocrine Web.
http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-thyroid