Thyroid Cancer Symptoms in Women

By learning about the various thyroid cancer symptoms in women, one can be alerted to the dangers of this ailment. Women are, by nature, more prone to diseases of the thyroid gland and this is something they should be on the lookout for at all times. If an individual has developed a case of thyroid cancer, the repercussions can turn out to be very serious over the long run, and this makes it imperative for the person to note and act on these symptoms as soon as they appear.

The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland in the body, and it is located near the windpipe. There are many vital hormones secreted by the thyroid gland into the bloodstream throughout the day, and these hormones help the human body in producing energy. Metabolism rates of the person are also determined by the level of activity of the thyroid gland, or the thyroid levels. So the primary symptom of a faulty thyroid gland is excessive fatigue, and if this is left untreated, it transforms into many other diseases and ailments. This occurs because the thyroid gland cannot perform the regular thyroid gland functions.

There are two types of cells in the thyroid gland that can be affected by thyroid cancer, and the effects on these cells brings up the various symptoms. These two types of cells are follicular cells and C cells. The former play a part in the secretion of the thyroid hormone and thus determine levels of energy, heart rate and body temperature. The latter type of cells make calcitonin, and this hormone helps in controlling the calcium levels in the blood. Needless to say, both hormones are absolutely vital for the sustenance of human life.

Thyroid Cancer
By definition, cancer always begins in the cells of the body. Cancer cannot be described as one singular disease in itself, as it is a collection of various diseases itself. As old cells die and new cells are produced, the presence of cancer ruins this process. Old cells refuse to die, and as a result a growth, or a tumor, can be seen in the area. When this growth occurs in the thyroid gland, it is known asthyroid nodules. Benign nodules are those which do not harm the body and do not spread to other parts, whereas malignant nodules are cancerous in nature and spread to other parts of the body as well (through the bloodstream). This transfer of cancer infected cells is also known as metastasis, and this causes the various the symptoms.

There are primarily 3 major types of thyroid cancer, and they are as follows.

• Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer - These cancer cells begin in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, but they grow slowly. So if they are spotted at an early stage, they can be treated successfully. This cancer accounts for about 85% of all thyroid cancer cases.
• Medullary thyroid cancer - These cancer cells originate in the C cells and they need to be stopped before they can spread to other parts of the body. They are definitely more harmful than papillary cancer cells and follicular cancer cells, and they account for about 10% of all thyroid cancer cases.
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer - This is the least common type of thyroid cancer (about 4% of cases) and they are also the hardest to treat. This cancer arises in the follicular cells, and they spread and grow very fast. Their abnormal nature makes them very hard to recognize.

Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition can often be mistaken for many other ailments, so they need careful scrutiny and analysis. Usually, these symptoms do not arise in the early stages of the cancer. They start appearing only when the cancer reaches an advanced stage, and it has started spreading to neighboring body parts and cells. Here are some symptoms of this condition.

• A visible nodule or lump in the neck.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
• Excessive and persistent pain in the neck and the throat.
• Difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
• Difficulty speaking, and when the voice does come out it is abnormally hoarse.

Again, these symptoms are not clear indicators of the condition, as there could be many factors that could be causing this. It is advisable to visit a doctor as soon as possible though, because in case these symptoms are really being caused by the cancer, the more time you waste the worse your condition will become.

Women should be on the lookout for these symptoms as they are more likely to contract this disease, especially women between the age of 30-35 years. You must visit a specialist and ask him what measures need to be taken to avoid this condition.