Fact 9: Thyroid Cancer Overview
Thyroid cancer, though less common compared to other cancers, has seen a notable rise in incidence over the past few decades. It is a malignancy that originates from the cells of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, butterfly-shaped and situated at the base of the neck, plays a crucial role in the body by producing hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, heart function, digestive function, muscle control, and brain development.
Thyroid cancer comes in several forms, each type determined by the specific cell within the thyroid that has become cancerous. The four primary types are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type, grows very slowly but often spreads to lymph nodes in the neck. On the other hand, follicular thyroid cancer grows slowly like papillary cancer, but it’s more likely to spread into your bloodstream, potentially affecting distant organs.
Medullary thyroid cancer can be sporadic or hereditary, meaning it can occur without any family history or can be passed down in families. Anaplastic thyroid cancer, the rarest and most aggressive form, often spreads quickly into the neck and to other parts of the body. (9)
