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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and Mount Sinai Health System experts stress early detection and symptom awareness in high-risk groups.
“While the majority of thyroid cancers arise without a family history, if you have a family history of thyroid cancer, you should have any new lump or mass in your neck evaluated by your physician. Also, people with a history of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, radiation exposure to the neck, or familial colon polyps are at increased risk,” says Brett Miles, MD, DDS, Associate Professor and Co-Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “A good rule of thumb is that swollen lymph nodes or lumps in your neck that do not go away after about 3-4 weeks, should be evaluated.”
According to the American Cancer Society, thyroid cancer cases are on the rise. It estimates 54,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2018, 75 percent of them in women. Even though women are, for unknown reasons, at higher risk of getting thyroid cancer, anyone in any age group can get the disease. Symptoms can present themselves earlier in women, who are typically diagnosed in their 40s or 50s, while men commonly get diagnosed in their 60s or 70s.
“Most patients with thyroid cancer are asymptomatic when they are diagnosed. These cancers are often only identified during routine physical examination by a physician,” says Raymond Chai, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “It’s important to note the vast majority of early stage thyroid cancers can be successfully treated, and that’s why early detection is critical.”
Facts about Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid cancer is a cancerous tumor or growth within the thyroid gland in the front of the neck.
- There are several types of thyroid cancer; the most common is papillary carcinoma, which is highly curable, especially if caught early.
- Symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump in the neck by the thyroid, neck pain (sometimes going up the ears), hoarseness in the voice, difficulty swallowing and breathing, persistent cough, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
- A family history of thyroid cancer; a history of radiation exposure to the head, neck, or chest; and a diet low in iodine are important risk factors.
- Regular follow-up care is an important part of treatment for patients with thyroid cancers.
Symptoms
- A lump and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
- Neck pain or tightness
- Hoarseness/persistent cough
- Difficulty swallowing/breathing
Tips for Prevention
- Have a physical exam every year
- Have a thyroid physical exam every three years if you are 20-39 years old
- Have a thyroid physical exam every year if you are 40 or older
- Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation
- Get frequent checks if you’ve been exposed to radiation of the head, neck, or chest and have a family history
- Perform a thyroid neck self-exam, looking for asymmetries or protrusions below the Adam’s apple
New Mount Sinai Thyroid Center
The Mount Sinai Thyroid Center, which opened in early 2018 at Mount Sinai Union Square is the only facility south of 34th Street in Manhattan to offer coordinated services in a single location, providing comprehensive thyroid care to ensure an accurate diagnosis and the best possible management of the disease. Surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, and pathologists work together to create specialized treatment plans and seamlessly coordinate treatment. Lab tests, thyroid ultrasound, and biopsies are done on the spot to ensure quick diagnosis and expedite therapy.
For more information on the Mount Sinai Thyroid Center at Union Square, see the link below https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/union-square/services/thyroid
For more information on our different offices, see the link below:
https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/center-thyroid-parathyroid-diseases/locations
For details on Mount Sinai thyroid cancer care, see the link below: https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/center-thyroid-parathyroid-diseases/conditions/thyroid-cancer
Breakthrough Technique for Nerve Monitoring During Thyroid Cancer Procedures
Mount Sinai surgeons are currently using a novel technique they developed to monitor laryngeal and vagus nerve function while patients are under anesthesia during otolaryngology procedures, including those for thyroid cancer. The method could save patients from vocal paralysis, maintain their swallowing function, and transform the way doctors perform surgeries.