Definition of Thyroid Cancer

• Forms when cells start to mutate and multiply at the thyroid grand.
• Constitute of the small butterfly-like shaped organ located at the base of the neck.
• Responsible for the control of the metabolism including the release of hormones with direct functions in the body (Felson, 2018).
• Produces hormones that help in the regulation of metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate, and the body temperatures (American Cancer Society, ACS, 2019).
• It is formed when abnormal cells multiply around the thyroid forming a tumor.
• It is one of the most treatable form of cancer (UK National Health Services, NHS, 2019).

Types of Thyroid Cancer

• Follicular thyroid cancer (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017.).
• Papillary thyroid cancer (Felson, 2018).
• Medullary thyroid cancer (Felson, 2018).
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer (National Cancer Institute, NCI, 2020).
• Thyroid lymphoma (ACS, 2019).

Causes of the Disease

• There are four main causes: –
  • Gender and age (Felson, 2018).
  • Exposure to radiations at early ages, e.g., radiation therapy in children (NCI, 2020).
  • Heredity and genetics passed along family lines e.g., familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC).
  • Lack of enough iodine.

Demographics of the Disease

• Statistical analysis – 52,890 new cases recorded.
• 40,170 – women.
• 12,720 – men.
• Prevalence of the disease is higher in women than men (ACS, 2020).
• However, higher fatality rate is among men than women.
• Women between 40s and 50s are at higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Men at 60 years and above are at higher risk.

Signs and Symptoms & Laboratory Findings

• Signs and symptoms
  • At early stages, thyroid cancer does not have any symptoms or signs.
  • Symptoms that can be experienced include: –
    • pain on the neck and around the throat,
    • increasing hoarseness,
    • swollen lymph nodes,
    • difficulties in swallowing and breathing,
    • constant cough, and
    • lump in the front of your neck (NHS, 2019).
  • Laboratory findings
    • Uses blood tests to detect the presence of cancer in the body.
    • Testing comprises of drawing blood used to test for the thyroid gland function.
    • Blood test focuses to confirm or rule out the prevalence of hyperthyroidism (too high) or hypothyroidism (to low) levels (NHS, 2019).

Diagnosis and Images of the Disease & Treatment

• Diagnosis
  • Blood test – thyroid function test.
  • Tests various levels of thyroid hormones in the blood (NHS, 2019).
  • Ultrasound – used to create image of inside the body.
  • Allows to check for lump that develops into cancer.
  • Biopsy is done to confirm the presence of cancer.
  • CT scan and MRI scan are used to determine the magnitude of thyroid cancer on your neck.
• Treatment
  • Surgery
  • Radioactive iodine treatment
  • Radiotherapy

Diet for the Patient & Prognosis of the Disease

• Diet for the Patient
  • Maintain low iodine levels in the diet (Cao et al., 2017).
  • Consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, white eggs, unsalted nuts and butter nuts (Barrea et al., 2020).
  • Regulated consumption of seafood (Fiore et al., 2020; Li, He, Bansal & Hennessey, 2016)
• Prognosis
  • Most thyroid cancer cases are curable.
  • Follicular and papillary thyroid cancer are the most common.
  • 50 years’ individuals have 98 percent cure rate (Clayman, 2019).
  • Early diagnosis increases cure capacity and success rate.