Thyroid Cancer Scenario: Rapid Growth in India

Thyroid Cancer: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland present below the larynx, i.e., voice box. Thyroid glands consist of nodules. This gland produces hormones that control the body’s metabolism and used to produce energy in the body. Thyroid cancer is a condition where these nodules aggressively grow in their size. Mostly they are benign (non-cancerous) in nature. In the event of these nodules’ cancerous growth, it can spread to the whole body and can be life-threatening.

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms:

Though there are no specific symptoms, a patient can complain about

• Throat pain
• Difficulty while swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Cough
• Lumps or swelling in the neck

Causes:

The exact cause is still not clearly understood, but some factors proved to have some causative effect. These are

• Iodine deficiency
• Radiation exposure
• Genetic syndrome

Common Risk Factors:

• family history of Thyroid cancer
• Lack of Iodine in the diet
• Age more than 40yrs
• Female patients
• The patient who has undergone a lot of Radiation treatment

Thyroid Cancer Prevention:

Following preventive measures has been established to be effective in eliminating risk factors.

• Healthy Diet, i.e., High fruits and vegetables and low animal fat
• Prophylactic treatment, i.e., preventive Surgery

Complications:

Patient, who undergoes Thyroid surgery to treat cancer, may lead to the following complications

• Alteration in the voice box
• Hoarseness
• Low calcium level
• Affects the body metabolism

Check here: Top 38 Accredited Cancer Hospitals from India

When to see a doctor:

Whenever it has been diagnosed, it has to be treated immediately. In the case of malignancy, no time needs to be wasted. The patient is kept on

• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radioactive Iodine
• Hormone therapy

These are some of the treatments for Thyroid cancer; if still patient is not cured, surgery is the last option.

Which are the hospitals to get cancer treatment in India?

1. Asian Institute of Oncology
2. S.L.Raheja Hospital, Raheja Hospital Road, Mahim, Mumbai 
3. Cancer Institute (WIA),  Adyar, Chennai
4. Jaslok hospital research Centre, Mumbai
5. Dharamshila Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Vasundhara Enclave, New Delhi
6. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Gopinath Nagar, Guwahati
7. Dr. Rai Memorial Cancer Institute 562, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
8. Rajkot Cancer Society, Mr. N.P. Cancer Institute, Raiya Road, Rajkot, Gujarat
9. Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, P.B.2417, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala.
10. Tata Memorial Centre, Dr. Ernest Borges Marg, Parel, Mumbai
11. The Gujarat Cancer & Research Insitute, M.P. Shah Cancer Hospital, New Civil Hospital Compound Asarwa, Ahmedabad
12. Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Sector 5, Rohini, Delhi
13. Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Jaipur