| Thyroid cancer develops as a result of the | | | | thyroid cancer is high in countries where people follow |
| uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the thyroid | | | | a low iodine diet. People with certain medical conditions |
| gland, resulting in a tumor. Some of these tumors are | | | | or a family history of thyroid disease have a higher risk |
| benign or non cancerous while some are malignant or | | | | of developing thyroid cancer. Incidents of thyroid |
| cancerous. The malignant tumors spread to the nearby | | | | cancer arise mainly in the age group of 25 to 65 |
| tissues and other parts of the body causing severe | | | | years. |
| complications. Since the thyroid gland is close to the | | | | Thyroid cancer may be papillary, follicular, medullary, or |
| skin, tumors often appear as lumps called thyroid | | | | anaplastic. A fine needle aspiration (FNA) test is an |
| nodules in the neck. Thyroid cancer is more | | | | ideal test for thyroid cancer. Papillary is the most usual |
| widespread among women than men; however, the | | | | type, while Follicular is a less common one usually |
| reason for this is not clear. About 20,000 cases of | | | | found in older people. Medullary and anaplastic are rare |
| thyroid cancer are reported each year in the United | | | | types, the former often hereditary and the latter |
| States. | | | | fast-growing one seen more among older people. The |
| The precise causes of thyroid cancer remain vague. | | | | anaplastic type is difficult to treat. Thyroid cancers tend |
| Some studies reveal that people who are exposed to | | | | to develop at a slow pace, and it may take some time |
| large amounts of radiation or those who have | | | | before any symptoms appear. Most types of thyroid |
| undergone radiation treatments for medical purposes, | | | | cancer can be treated successfully with early |
| especially on the head and neck, face an increased | | | | detection and appropriate surgical procedures. |
| risk of developing thyroid cancer. The occurrence of | | | | |