Is thyroid cancer considered cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland. It is a malignant tumor originating from the thyroid follicular epithelium or parafollicular cells. Whether thyroid cancer is considered a cancer needs to be judged based on the specific pathological type. It is usually divided into papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, and medullary thyroid cancer.

1. Papillary thyroid cancer: It accounts for 10% of all tumors in the body and is the most common thyroid cancer. It is less malignant and has a better clinical prognosis. If it is discovered early and surgically removed, it can usually be cured and is not considered cancer.

2. Follicular thyroid cancer: It accounts for about 10% of thyroid cancer. The tumor of this type of patient grows rapidly and is accompanied by cervical lymph node metastasis and even distant metastasis, which may be more serious.

3. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: It accounts for about 3%-10% of thyroid cancers. This type of tumor is highly malignant and is prone to cervical lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Even with active surgical treatment, its prognosis is relatively poor and is usually considered cancer.

4. Medullary thyroid cancer: It accounts for about 1% of thyroid cancer. The tumor grows relatively slowly, and is mainly manifested by cervical lymph node metastasis, and sometimes distant metastasis. At this time, surgical treatment is less effective, and comprehensive treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are also needed.

After the patient is diagnosed with thyroid cancer, he or she can choose the appropriate treatment method under the guidance of a doctor according to the severity of the disease. Patients with early thyroid cancer can undergo surgical treatments such as total thyroidectomy and unilateral thyroidectomy, while patients with mid-to-late stage thyroid cancer can undergo surgical treatments such as total thyroidectomy and near-total thyroidectomy. Radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy and other methods can also be used to improve the treatment effect.