Thyroid cancer can remain silent for a very long time. However, certain signs may betray the presence of a tumor on the gland. Why Doctor takes stock.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, 10,665 new cases were detected in mainland France in 2018. Women are the first victims, representing 76% of diagnoses.
- The 5-year survival rate after treatment for thyroid cancer is 92% for men and 98% for women in France.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the neck. Its role is to produce several types of hormones. These influence various bodily functions such as temperature, growth, heart rate, fertility, digestion and energy production.
Thyroid cancer occurs when a cell in the gland transforms and multiplies out of control and eventually forms a malignant tumour.
Thyroid cancer: a long silent tumor
Thyroid cancer usually causes few or no symptoms in the early stages. However, as the malignancy grows, signs are likely to appear:
- The appearance of a lump on the neck: this lump (called a nodule) can be felt through the skin when you pass your hand over the throat. It is often painless and not bothersome. “95% of them are not cancerous”, specifies however the health insurance.
- The feeling of having a too tight collar: this sign should alert according to the Mayo Clinic. The American establishment recalls that the swelling of the throat is not always visible to the naked eye.
- Changes in the voice: depending on the health insurance, it may sound “hoarse or bitonal (presence of two different tones)”. A study, published in the Eurasian Journal of Medicine in 2019, notes that a “shaky voice, reduced voice intensity and audible breathing” are also likely to signal the disease.
- Difficulty swallowing and/or breathing.
- The increase in the volume of a goiter or an already identified thyroid nodule: “A change in the volume, consistency or tenderness of a thyroid nodule requires prompt medical consultation.“, warns the medical book Vidal.
- Pain in the neck or throat: they are mainly located in the front.
- Swollen lymph nodes at the base of the neck.
Different types of thyroid cancer
There are several types of thyroid cancer. In 9 out of 10 cases, it is a “differentiated” tumour. That is, the cells that make it up look and function similar to normal cells. The main symptom of this cancer is the appearance of a nodule.
In 5% of cases, the tumor develops from the C cells of the thyroid. This cancer is called “medullary”. This rare disease, mainly linked to a genetic predisposition, can be identified by a symptom absent in other thyroid cancers: a significant increase in the level of calcitonin in the blood. “More rarely, the diagnosis is suspected because of diarrhea related to the hormonal secretions of the tumor”adds the institute Gustave Roussy.
