{"id":3194,"date":"2019-01-29T05:25:57","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T05:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3194"},"modified":"2021-03-25T14:06:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T14:06:45","slug":"12-most-common-thyroid-cancer-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/12-most-common-thyroid-cancer-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Most Common Thyroid Cancer Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The thyroid is an important gland that serves several functions that affect the overall well being of the body. It is a part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for glands that store and release different hormones into the bloodstream so they can be delivered to the cells of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thyroid produces two hormones that are essential to the body, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine. These hormones are responsible for triggering the cells to function and perform and certain rates. Thyroid cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that occurs when there is abnormal cell growth in the thyroid gland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thyroid gland is located in the base of the neck and thyroid cancer may cause a lump to appear in this area. Here are eight of the most common thyroid cancer signs that you should be aware of and have checked out by a doctor if you experience any of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. No Appetite
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Almost anyone who has developed any type of cancer <\/a>may experience a loss of appetite. This is a common symptom for most cancer patients. A person who has thyroid cancer may experience a loss of appetite. These individuals simply do not have a desire to eat, even foods that were once enjoyable to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for this could be caused by the metabolic changes that are caused by cancer. Some of the other factors that may contribute to the loss of appetite include weakness, pain, fatigue, and depression. In individuals who have thyroid cancer, it may cause difficulty swallowing, which can cause a person not to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feeling of having a constant lump in the throat also contributes to the loss of appetite. As the nodule or cancer grows, the esophagus may become obstructed. This can cause a person to resort to liquids or soft foods, which may not be very appetizing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Weight Loss
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Another common symptom of any patient that has been diagnosed with cancer is weight loss. It is obvious that a loss of appetite, which is another sign of cancer, can lead to a person losing weight. After all, a person who does not have an appetite is not going to eat as much and when you are not eating as much you are more likely to lose weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, almost 40 percent of patients who are diagnosed <\/a>with cancer have reported that one of the first symptoms that they noticed was an unexplained weight loss when they were first diagnosed. For those who have more advanced stages of cancer unexpected weight loss occurs in nearly 80 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who have an advanced stage of thyroid cancer cachexia may occur. This refers to several symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and a loss of appetite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Appearance of Nodules
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Most forms of thyroid cancer will first present as a nodule. This nodule <\/a>will be painless and is typically located in the front of the neck, just below Adam\u2019s apple. A person will typically discover a nodule by palpitating the neck. This may be self-discovered in the shower or during a routine examination by a physician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically when a person discovers a solitary nodule they will not think much about it as these nodules typically will not cause any pain and can be somewhat unnoticeable. About four to seven percent of the population nodules on the thyroid are present and most of these nodules are benign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A solitary nodule is more likely to be malignant in people who are under the age of thirty or over the age of sixty. If you discover a nodule located under Adam\u2019s apple, it is a good idea to have it checked by a doctor to rule out thyroid cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Difficulty Swallowing
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When a person has difficulty swallowing the medical term for it is dysphagia<\/a>. Dysphagia can also cause a person to have difficulty starting the swallowing movement. It may also cause a person to feel like they have food that is stuck in the chest or the neck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom is quite common in older people, which means that it is often overlooked as a symptom of thyroid cancer. In patients over the age of 50, dysphagia is quite common. When a person has thyroid cancer, the dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is caused by the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This enlargement causes direct compression in the throat area, which can make it difficult to swallow. Even after a patient has been treated and has thyroid cancer under control, they may still continue to experience difficulty swallowing. This can be caused as a consequence of the surgery or radiation treatment that is used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Hyperthyroidism
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There are some people who experience hyperthyroidism <\/a>when they have thyroid cancer. When this occurs it suggests that nodules are autonomously functioning. These nodules are characterized by their function, iodine uptake, growth, and are independent of control from the stimulating thyroid hormone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study found that hyperthyroidism among patients who have thyroid cancer is high at around twelve percent. In addition, those who have symptoms of hyperthyroidism have cancer that is more aggressive and the prognosis is much poorer when compared to other thyroid cancer patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism include increased appetite, loss of weight, heat intolerance, diarrhea, tachycardia, dyspnea, anxiety, proximal muscle weakness in the pelvis and hips especially, irritability, eye symptoms, and more. Not everyone who has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism will develop thyroid cancer. However, a person who has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism and vice versa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone who has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism will develop thyroid cancer. However, a person who has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism and vice versa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Voice Changes
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When a person has a nodule appear in their neck also has a voice that has changed or become hoarse, it is much more likely that the nodule that has appeared is malignant<\/a>. When the voice becomes hoarse it is often indicative that the laryngeal nerve is involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The laryngeal nerve is a part of the vagus nerve. It is responsible for innervating the muscles located within the larynx. It is also responsible for vocal cord paralysis. The thyroid is located under the larynx. The larynx is often referred to as the voice box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When there is a nodule present in the thyroid, it will often put pressure on the voice box. This can lead to changes in the voice or hoarseness. If a person is experiencing changes in their voice that are persistent and not resolving, there is a good chance there is a growth on the thyroid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Difficulty Breathing
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A person who has thyroid cancer may have difficulty breathing. This symptom is referred to as dyspnea<\/a>. If the growth in the thyroid becomes large enough it can cause the airway to become obstructed. When this occurs, it can cause a person to become short of breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason that a person who has thyroid cancer may experience dyspnea or shortness of breath is that cancer may have spread into the lungs. When thyroid cancer starts to spread it can cause pleural effusions and lung infiltration. Lung metastasis is often associated with many respiratory symptoms, including difficulty breathing. When this occurs it can lead to many complications, some of which can be fatal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lung metastases are the cause of death in about 46 percent of patients who have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. If you notice a lump in your throat, it is important to have it checked right away so that it can be removed quickly as this provides the best chance at survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Unexplained Coughing
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One of the non-specific signs of thyroid cancer is a cough<\/a>. There are numerous reasons that a person may develop a cough. A common cold, a tickle in the throat, or simply an irritation can cause a person to cough. A cough that is caused by thyroid cancer will be persistent and will simply not go away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This cough is typically caused by an irritation located in the trachea that affects the nerves of the vocal cords. The nodule is the main cause of this irritation. As the nodule grows it can stretch or rub on the nerve, which leads to irritation and a persistent cough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A patient that has a cough that is persistent and has been found to have thyroid cancer may have to have a CT scan in order to determine how involved the nerves are. The CT scan is also done to confirm or to rule out whether or not the cough is being caused by the nodule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Weight Gain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another symptom that is associated with damage to the thyroid gland is excessive and unexplained weight gain. What happens here, is that the body is no longer able to produce some of the hormones that it normally uses in order to regulate appetite, energy metabolism<\/a>, and digestion With these hormones gone, you will now be less able to burn through calories and use them, meaning that they will be \u2018leftover\u2019 and need to be stored somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many potential causes for weight gain, but if you are eating the same amount as you have ever done and you are gaining weight with no obvious reason, then you might have thyroidism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, we have already discussed that weight loss <\/em>can also be a symptom. This is due to changes in metabolism also, along with the effects of the cancer itself. Specific symptoms of cancer can always vary slightly, depending on the precise part of the organ that is affected and what happens to it as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Swelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is useful to remember when you have any form of cancer, is that you have developed an area of bad cells. These cells have become mutated and are no longer able to perform the job they were intended to do, at the same time, they will gradually spread through mitosis in order to affect more and more of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This basically causes damage to whatever part of the body the cancer is affecting, and your body will, therefore, respond much as it would to any other form of damage. That means swelling <\/a>\u2013 as your body rushes to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, this will cause the area to become inflamed and enlarged \u2013 leading to a potentially visible lump where the thyroid gland is located in the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a very useful symptom to look out for when trying to perform a self-diagnosis. That\u2019s because it will help you to identify the difference between regular hypothyroidism and a similar condition brought on by cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Again, your body is going to respond to the damage in a similar way that it would respond to any other damage. In the case of your immune system, it is going to treat those cancerous cells just as it would treat any other foreign invader such as bacteria. In other words, it is going to try and hunt them down and destroy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way it does this is by raising your body\u2019s core temperature, and that in turn causes a fever<\/a>. You might feel ill as though you have a cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, your temperature regulation can be thrown off by the direct damage to your thyroid gland. This can either cause you to feel excessively warm, or excessively cool. In general, you might find that some of the effects are almost similar to menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Hypothyroidism<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We talked earlier about hyperthyroidism \u2013 where damage to the thyroid gland results in a sudden surge of hormone production, which in turn increases the metabolism leading to rapid weight loss, anxiety, and mania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is also possible that the exact opposite thing can happen. Here, the body slows down its production of thyroid hormones, and that causes you to gain weight more quickly and to feel less energetic. This is called hypothyroidism<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition also causes a number of other complex changes throughout the body. These include symptoms such as acne (caused by hormonal changes), such as carpal tunnel (potentially caused by swelling in the wrist areas), and such as heavy menstrual cycles for women. This can even be linked with polycystic ovaries. In fact, there are many conditions that are somewhat related to hypothyroidism though it isn\u2019t always understood how the interaction works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Lethargy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lethargy<\/a>, as mentioned, is one symptom of hypothyroidism. Here, the body becomes less able to burn food for energy and therefore stores it as fat. The other consequence of this though of course is that with less energy available you start to feel more tired and less able to engage in other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time though, you might also experience lethargy as a direct result of the cancer. When your body is fighting cancerous cells, it is useful to remember just what a huge undertaking this is. You will now be expending a huge amount of energy on your immune system, and this can leave you feeling extremely tired and with less energy for doing a lot of other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might, therefore, feel generally tired, even if your production of thyroid hormones has not been interrupted. Therefore, you should never ignore a sudden feeling of tiredness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Illness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, as your body is fighting to combat the cancerous cells, this will leave your immune system once less able to do other things. In this case, that includes removing other types of germs and invaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This then means that you can become more susceptible to other illnesses. You might become more prone to colds <\/a>and flu for instance, or you might start to get more stomach bugs and infections. While this doesn\u2019t necessarily point to cancer, the key is to look for clusters of symptoms that might suggest something more concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you keep getting ill, if you are tired, and if you are showing signs of hormone changes \u2013 look for signs of swelling and discomfort around your neck area. If you think there is any possibility that cancer might be involved, then get yourself checked as soon as possible. The earlier it is found, the better your chances of a positive outcome.
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