There is more than one type of thyroid cancer, and the tumors that cause these cancers and where they appear on the thyroid all vary. Within each type of thyroid cancer there is also variance on size and aggressiveness of tumors which will affect treatment plans, recurrence rates and fatality rates.
Papillary Tumors
At more than 70% of all the diagnosed types of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid tumors are the most common. Papillary cancer is also highly treatable and has the best survival rate of all cancers at 80 percent to 90 percent. A papillary tumor will grow on otherwise normal thyroid tissue and may spread to nearby lymph nodes. It is generally treated by removing either the entire thyroid or the cancerous part of the thyroid. Patients will then undergo a radioactive iodine treatment and generally do not receive any type of chemotherapy or radiation.
Follicular Cancer
Follicular Thyroid cancer is the second most common type of thyroid cancer with an occurrence of less than 15 percent of all thyroid cancers. Follicular tumors are more aggressive than papillary tumors, and also arise from normal thyroid cells. The survival rate is very high, although it drops in older patients and those with extensive spreading of the cancer. It is common for this type of cancer to spread into nearby veins and arteries, which is why it is a more aggressive form of thyroid cancer tumor. In almost all cases, the entire thyroid is removed regardless of how extensive the tumor presence is.
Medullary Tumors
Medullary tumors account for between 5 percent and 8 percent of all diagnosed thyroid cancer tumors. Unlike papillary and follicular tumors, medullary tumors arise from the parafollicular cells. Although medullary tumors have a lower rate survival rate than papillary and follicular tumors, it is still quite high depending how how extensively the cancer has spread. According to endocrineweb, the survival rate is 90% when all the disease is limited to the thyroid gland; 70 percent when it has spread to cervical lymph nodes; and 20 percent when it spreads to distant sites.
Anaplastic Thyroid tumors
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the least common among the varieties of thyroid cancer tumors with an occurrence of less than 1 percent. Unfortunately, this type of cancer tumor also has a very low rate of cure, with 10 percent of patients surviving more than three years after being diagnosed. These tumors grow rapidly and are usually visible on the neck, and often appear quickly due to their rapid growth. They are rare in young people and are often treated with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Post-op tumor removal
When the thyroid is completely removed due to the presence of thyroid cancer tumors (total thyroidectomy) or partially removed (partial thyroidectomy) a patient will have to take medication in the form of thyroid hormones to replace the thyroid function. The thyroid is part of the endocrine system and controls metabolism, and also works with other natural hormones in the body. A patient will work with her or her doctor to achieve the correct dose of thyroid medication, which will be determined by measuring the levels of thyroid in the blood.
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