According to a story from WebMD, a recent study concludes that the rates of diagnosis for thyroid cancer have been steadily increasing recently, and that it is over treated in a lot of cases. In many patients, the primary treatment approach is the surgical removal of the entire thyroid. The study finds that the overall risk of death from thyroid cancer, despite the increase in diagnostic rates, has consistently remained low. The authors argue that thyroid removal is not necessarily worth the cost in the majority of cases.
About Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in the thyroid, an endocrine gland that is located in the neck. Causes of thyroid cancer are not entirely clear, but there are both environmental and genetic factors that may play a role. Radiation exposure, such as from radiation treatment for lymphoma, is a risk factor, as are a small number of genetic disorders that affect the endocrine system. Symptoms include thyroid nodules, an enlarged thyroid, change in vocal tone, and pain in the neck. Not all thyroid nodules become cancer. Treatment usually involves surgery and radiotherapy. Survival rates depend on the type and staging, but in the most common form of thyroid cancer, five year survival is excellent at 98 percent. To learn more about thyroid cancer, click here.
Study Findings
The study finds that many cases of thyroid cancer can be treated by simply removing the affected portion of the gland, and in many cases, no immediate action is necessary at all. Instead, simple monitoring of the tumor is all that is necessary. In a good portion of patients, thyroid cancer never becomes aggressive, nor does it cause symptoms.
While people can live without their thyroid, those who have it removed have a chance of developing hypothyroidism. In this condition, and insufficient level of hormones that the gland normally releases are present, which can cause a drop in calcium levels. People with this condition may have to take calcium and vitamin D supplements, and may develop bone weakness later in life. This risk is eliminated with just a partial removal surgery.
Less Surgery, More Perspective
The majority of thyroid cancer surgeries are complete removals despite the unnecessary risks associated with it. The authors posit that this may be due to a lack of knowledge about the latest treatment guidelines, as many procedures are performed by doctors that conduct only a small portion of thyroid cancer surgeries. Some caregivers may also fear undertreating and do the removal as a precaution, but it simply is not the standard of care that many patients need.
Check out the original study here.
