Thyroid Cancer
Caileen, Karly, Meghan
What is a thyroid?
A thyroid is a butterfly shaped cartilage which is in the front part of your neck. A Person cannot see or feel the thyroid with his/her's hand. The thyroid constantly discharges a hormone that controls a person's growth and metabolism rate into the bloodstream. (What is Thyroid Cancer)
By: Meghan.S
Edited By: Caileen Burnside
What is Thyroid cancer? And What Happens When You Get It?
When you get thyroid cancer there is a possibility of a lump forming on your throat that a doctor can feel or see, this lump is called a goiter. This is a large gland, and either both your glands are affected or just one is. A goiter can be either noncancerous, or it can also be maligned, which means it is cancerous and will spread out of the thyroid.
(What is Thyroid Cancer)
By: Meghan. S
Edited By: Caileen Burnside
A Brief History of Thyroid Cancer
by: Karly
Symptoms
Thyroid cancer does not always have symptoms. This can make detecting thyroid cancer very difficult. Some of the symptoms are a lump in the neck, swollen lymph nodes, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or breathing, neck pain, and throat pain. Symptoms of thyroid cancer are very hard to detect, because the noticeable symptoms are not caused by the actual cancer but are caused by the thyroid nodule where the thyroid cancer is developing. ("Thyroid Cancer Symptoms.")
by: Karly
How Does Thyroid Cancer Affect Your Body?
By: Meghan Sutton
What Causes Thyroid Cancer?
It is unknown how exactly Thyroid cancer starts. Many scientist believe the cause of thyroid cancer is the mutation of your DNA, or people, who are exposed to too much radiation on their neck and head can cause this type of cancer.
By: Meghan Sutton
Stats
Women's: 47,230
Men's: 15,220
Percentages of Ages Diagnosed:
Under 20: 2.3%
20-34: 20.2%
35-44: 23.3%
45-54: 22.1%
55-64: 14.6%
65-74: 10%
75-84: 6%
85 and older: 1.4%
(Thyroid Cancer Statics)
Deaths:
Women's: 1,080
Men's: 870
(What Are the Key Statics about Thyroid Cancer)
Cancer survival per year for each type of thyroid cancer and stage:
Papillary Thyroid Cancer:
Stage 1: 100%
Stage 2: 100%
Stage 3: 93%
Stage 4: 51%
Follicular Thyroid Cancer:
Stage 1: 100%
Stage 2: 100%
Stage 3: 71%
Stage 4: 50%
Medullary Thyroid Cancer:
Stage 1: 100%
Stage 2: 98%
Stage 3: 81%
Stage 4: 28%
(Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage)
By: Caileen Burnside
Picture Citation
by: Karly
Stages
Papillary and Follicular Stages:
Stage 1: The cancer is in the papillary and hasn't spread from the thyroid.
Stage 2: The cancer has spread into other body parts (example lungs, bones).
Stage 3: The Tumor is larger then four and is only located in the thyroid, or it spread to the tissues right outside of the cells but not to the lymph nodes. In this stage you can have the tumor be any size, it spread to tissues around the thyroid, and have it spread to lymph nodes near the trachea or the larynx, also known as the voice box.
Stage 4: This stage is put into three individual stages, which are IVA, IVB, and IVC. In IVA, the tumor is any size, has spread outside of the thyroid, under the skin, the trachea, the esophagus, the larynx (voice box), the laryngeal nerve, and even the lymph nodes. In this stage it can also have the tumor be any size, cancer may have spread outside of the thyroid, and cancer spread to lymph nodes or between the lungs. In IVB, the cancer has spread in front of the spinal column, around the carotid artery, in the blood vessels between the lungs, or to the lymph nodes. In IVC, the tumor is any size, cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and may have spread to the lymph nodes.
Medullary Stages:
Stage 0: The cancer can only be found with the help of special testing, and no tumor is found.
Stage 1: The cancer only in the thyroid, and is 2 centimeters or smaller.
Stage 2: The tumor is 2 centimeters or bigger and is only found in the thyroid; or the tumor is any size and just spread outside of the thyroid.
Stage 3: The tumor is any size, to the lymph nodes by the trachea and the larynx (voice box), and to the tissue just outside of the thyroid.
Stage 4: There are also three individual stages in stage four cancer, they are IVA, IVB, and IVC. In the stage IVA, the tumor is any size, spread outside of the thyroid to the tissue under the skin, the trachea, the esophagus, the larynx (voice box), the laryngeal nerve, and even the lymph nodes. It also can have the tumor be any size, cancer may have spread outside of the thyroid, and cancer spread to lymph nodes or between the lungs. In the stage IVB, the cancer has spread to the front of the spinal column, around the carotid artery, in the blood vessels between the lungs, or to the lymph nodes. In IVC, the tumor is any size, cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and may have spread to the lymph nodes.(Thyroid Cancer Types, Stages and Treatment Overview)
by: Caileen Burnside
Treatment
The typical cost of thyroid cancer treatment:
For patients with health insurance:
Thyroid cancer treatment is usually covered by health insurance. Some plans may not cover certain surgeries and drugs.
For patients without health insurance:
For patients that do not have health insurance, costs can be from $20,000-$40,000 for surgery and around $4,000 for radioactive iodine treatment.
For metastatic thyroid cancer:
Cost for metastatic thyroid cancer can reach $60,000 or more in the first year of being discovered. In the following years the cost can be around $35,000. ("How Much Does Thyroid Cancer Treatment Cost? - CostHelper.com.").
Treatments available:
There are many different types of thyroid cancer treatments. The most recommended thyroid cancer treatment is radioactive iodine treatment. Some other treatments are surgery, thyroid hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Two or more of these treatments are often combined to treat thyroid cases. ("How Is Thyroid Cancer Treated?").
Limitations to life after thyroid cancer:
There are not necessarily any HUGE limitations after being affected by thyroid cancer. All that the former patient can really do is make healthier decisions. The former patient should get exercise, eat better, and get enough rest. After having thyroid cancer fatigue can be an issue. Fatigue can not be treated by rest and there is not really anything to do about it. Usually the fatigue goes away eventually. ("Lifestyle Changes after Having Thyroid Cancer.").
Support groups:
There a lot of great support groups out there for thyroid cancer. The website http://www.thyca.org/sg/ has a list of every country in the U.S. and where support groups are located in those states. Patients can visit this website to find a support group to go to. ("Support Groups.").
by: Karly
Charities
Thyroid charity: The Life of Light Foundation
Website: http://www.lightoflifefoundation.org/
This is the most trustworthy foundation we found. It will be perfect to donate to because it is based of stories and goes to many different people on not just a certain group that is affected.
By: Karly, Caileen, and Meghan
Picture Citation: ("Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month!")
September, Thyroid Awareness Month
Don't forget to check you neck
Life Of Light Foundation
Why Should You Care?
by: Karly, Caileen, Meghan
What gene is affected? How to Avoid It?
By: Meghan Sutton
Picture Citation: ("RET Gene.")
Works Cited by: Karly, Caileen, Meghan
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"How Much Does Thyroid Cancer Treatment Cost? - CostHelper.com." CostHelper. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
"Piedmont Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Newnan, Fayette, Stockbridge." Thyroid Cancer -. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Posters." Light of Life Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"RET Gene." Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month!" Running For More. N.p., 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Statistics." EMedTV: Health Information Brought To Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage." Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage." Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage." Thyroid Cancer Survival by Type and Stage. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Symptoms." EndocrineWeb. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
"Thyroid Cancer Types, Stages and Treatment Overview." Thyroid Cancer Types, Stages and Treatment Overview. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"What Are the Key Statistics about Thyroid Cancer?" What Are the Key Statistics about Thyroid Cancer? N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
"What Is Thyroid Cancer?" What Is Thyroid Cancer? N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
Reflection by: Karly, Caileen, Meghan
2. How would this cancer affect you or your family?
3. Is there any way you can donate to a cancer foundation
4. Have you learned something new?