Is thyroid cancer cancer?

Whether thyroid cancer is cancer needs to be judged based on the pathological type of thyroid cancer, which includes papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

1. Papillary thyroid cancer: This is the most common thyroid cancer. This type of thyroid cancer originates from follicular epithelial cells, grows slowly, has a low degree of malignancy, and has a relatively good clinical prognosis. For patients who do not have distant metastasis in the early stage, surgical resection can be performed, such as complete resection, lymph node dissection, etc. The cure rate of patients with early papillary thyroid cancer is relatively high and may not affect their life expectancy;

2. Follicular thyroid cancer: It accounts for about 10% of thyroid cancers. It is less malignant than papillary thyroid cancer, and its 10-year survival rate is about 67%. This type of thyroid cancer can be treated with total thyroidectomy under the guidance of a doctor. Patients in the middle and late stages also need radionuclide therapy after surgery.

3. Medullary thyroid cancer: It refers to a malignant tumor originating from the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland. It is rare. Cancer cells can secrete a variety of amines and hormones, as well as 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, prostaglandins, and adrenocorticotropic hormone-like substances, which can cause intractable diarrhea in some patients. Early patients can undergo surgical treatment, such as total resection, lateral neck lymph node dissection, etc. The treatment effect is generally good and will not affect life expectancy;

4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: It refers to a malignant tumor originating from the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland. It is rare and highly malignant, but relatively rare. If the tumor is small and has not metastasized, it can be removed surgically. If the tumor has metastasized, adjuvant treatments such as radionuclide therapy and hormone replacement therapy are required after surgical treatment. Anaplastic cancer is highly malignant and has a shorter survival time, so the prognosis is poor and it is usually incurable.

It is recommended that if you experience symptoms such as pain and swelling in the thyroid area that are suspected of thyroid cancer, you should go to the hospital's thyroid surgery department in a timely manner to complete palpation, color ultrasound examination, and other tests to confirm the diagnosis.