Physical Examination

The doctor checks the patient’s neck, heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure to identify any kind of abnormal situation.  He also listens to the patient’s thyroid with the help of a stethoscope.  In order to locate the signs and symptoms of Thyroid cancer he may examined the patient’s eyes, hair, skin, nails or hands etc.

Thyroid Blood tests:

In the screening process of Thyroid Cancer the doctors may performs various blood tests depends upon the conditions of patients some of these are:

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test
• Total T4/ Total Thyroxine
• Free T3 / Free Triiodothyronine
• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) / Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
• Antithyroid Microsomal Antibodies / Antimicrosomal Antibodies
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies / Antithyroglobulin Antibodies
• Thyroid Receptor Antibodies (TRAb)

Imaging tests

Different kinds of imaging tests are used to pinpoint the extent, stage and cause of Thyroid cancer.

Nuclear Scan / Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAI-U) :

This test is performed to check whether the patient has Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, or thyroiditis or not.

CT Scan :

The cross sectional images of inside body are taken by connecting an x-ray machine to a computer and this imaging methods helps in detection  and diagnosing of  a goiter, or larger thyroid nodules.

MRI / Magnetic Resonance Imaging:

This imaging method is best to determine the size and shape of the thyroid tumor.

Thyroid Ultrasound:

With the mean of such method a proper evaluation of nodules, lumps and enlargement of patient is made. It also helps the doctor to differentiate between a mass solid tissue and a fluid-filled cyst

Thyroid Biopsy:

Fine Needle Aspiration or a biopsy helps the doctor to diagnose the cancerous or non-cancerous growth of a thyroid tumor.

Other Diagnostic tests and Procedures:

• Iodine Patch Tests
• Saliva Testing
• Urinary Testing
• Basal Body Temperature Testing

Here are some risk factors that increase the possibility of Thyroid Cancer appearance;

Radiation: The people who exposed to intense level of radiation have higher risk of this cancer emergence in comparison of other people. There are generally two main sources of these radiations; one is radiation exposure in X-Ray treatment while other is radiation in radioactive fallout.

Family history: Due to change or alternation in RET gene , Medullary thyroid cancer resulted.This altered gene passed from parent to child and in this way everyone has the risk to be affected by this altered gene which will lead to thyroid cancer.

According to study, it is demonstrated that the people, who have family history of goiter or certain precancerous polyps in the colon, have more chances of papillary thyroid cancer development. However there are a few cases of cancer patients who become the victims of cancer just because of this inheritance problem.

Gender: In the United States, it is proven by survey that the women are more likely to develop this disease than men.

Age: Mostly, the people over age 40 are the victims of thyroid cancer than that of other. The anaplastic thyroid  is more common in the people over age 65.

Race: It is demonstrated by a study in United States that the white people have more risk of thyroid cancer than that of African American.

Diet: This factor also becomes the cause of Thyroid disease. The people who take insufficient iodine in their routine diet may be hit by this disease. In order to avoid this problem you must have to take proper iodine diet especially add more salt in each dish.

It is also possible that a person who has these rsik factors not develop disease while a person who hasn’t any of these factors may develop this disease. In this case only a doctor can suggest the proper treatment for the patient.

In a majority of cases the cancer develops very slowly, the first symptom is usually a lump in the neck that grows. Occasionally the cancer may press onto the windpipe and cause breathing problems. There is also a chance that the cancer will be found after cancer has been found elsewhere in the human body. However despite its position on the thyroid gland it rarely affects the production of hormones.

Most thyroid swellings are harmless but it is advised to visit a doctor if any swelling is found. The physician will begin an examination and assess whether the swelling is cancerous, if the physician determines that further examination is needed then tests have to be carried out to assess whether the swelling is benign. Blood samples are taken to test hormone levels and to check general health then a needle is placed into the swelling and a sample is extracted for analysis.

The swelling maybe a simple cyst that needs to be drained so an ultrasound is usually used to get an image of the neck, more thorough scans such as a CT scan or an MRI maybe used to get a full picture of the body and check whether any other cancerous cells are present elsewhere.

The usual treatment for thyroid cancer is to perform surgery on the affected area to remove any cancerous cells, usually that is all that is needed in the case thyroid cancer. However the cancer may have spread to other areas and radiotherapy is usually used in that case.