Thyroid Cancer Types

Question: Can there be different types of cancer inside one house? I have my Grandparents, my uncle, my aunt, and the dog in one house, 4 out of the 5 had/have cancer. But, there all different types: thyroid, Hodgkin lymphoma, skin, and luekemia. Is this unusual?

Answer: Some families are more genetically prone to cancer than others (dog's cancer is a coincidence). This just means that you should never skip your yearly pap-smear after the age of 18. You should also have a mammogram at 38 (to use as a base) and then one every year after that. You should never smoke or drink alcohol (both increase cancer risk-- eventhough red wine is ok for heart disease it's bad for cancer) and make sure you discuss non-hormonal options for birth control when you're ready for that. All that said, if you have a basement where you live, there is a test sold in Home Depot and Lowe's called a Radon Test. It's about $20 and you leave it in the basement for a day or 2 and it will tell you if your home has a Radon problem. Radon is a radio-active gas known to increse risk of cancer by a HUGE margin. It's easy to find out and worth the $20. If your home does have a high Radon problem it only costs a few hundred bucks to get it fixed which is much less money than the medical bills it can cause later. Good luck.

Question: If someone has thyroid cancer wouldn't the CBC blood test show that something was abnormal? I know it can't tell you what type of cancer but wouldn't the red and white blood cell count come back as abnormal?

Answer: No. The CBC only looks at very basic blood cells in your body. These cells can be completely normal in a person with cancer, although they almost always vary when a person is undergoing treatment or has very advanced disease. What you need is to look at the thyroid levels which will show if they are increased, which is common in thyroid tumor. Your symptoms and the physical exam will often point more directly to the cause. A biopsy is needed to confirm a cancer diagnosis.

Question: Questions about thyroid cancer? My mom's boyfriend, who is 67, was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They had removed one side of the thyroid, which was extremely long, and discovered it. Apparently there are 3 types of thyroid cancer, and he has all 3. The doctor has never seen this before. They are removing the other half next week and then will start iodine treatments. Has anyone out there ever experienced this or do you know of someone who has? I would love to hear some experiences. Thank you so much.

Answer: There are actually four types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Papillary and follicular are usually the easiest to treat and rarely fatal. Medullary and anaplastic are more aggressive forms for thyroid cancer that are generally fatal. Anaplastic is more aggressive than medullary. I honestly don't know how he could have 3 forms of thyroid cancer, unless he has had it for so long that it has changed into the other forms. It is possible that he has papillary with a follicular variant and Hashimoto's as well (Hashi's is an autoimmune disorder where your body attacks the thyroid). I suspect he has papillary or follicular since you mentioned he'll be having radioactive iodine treatments. I had papillary and am approaching surgery #6, very vrey uncommon for this form of cancer. But my doctors now suspect I had a follicular variant because of how my cancer is acting. The radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment itself is painless. He'll swallow a pill or liquid and be one his way. He will need to be isolated for at least 3 days since he'll be radioactive. Prior to the treatment, he shold also go on a low iodine diet to deplete his body of iodine so the remaining thyroid cells eat up the RAI. Shortly after the RAI, he'll be able to start taking Synthroid, which is a synthentic form of thyroid hormone. He'll be feeling pretty tired and likely irritated until he gets a good stock of thyroid hormone back in his body. If he has one of the more aggressive forms as well, he'll need to be treated with chemo and/or a neck dissection as discussed with this ENT. Check out these sites for even more information: www.thyca.org www.endocrineweb.com www.thyroid.com www.livestrong.org Best of luck to him!

Question: Is thyroid cancer common? Types of thyroid cancer and its symptoms?

Answer: It isn't really that common. I had a huge lump on my thyroid gland and it turned out to be papillary cancer. This website is very helpful http://www.endocrineweb.com/thyroidca.html

Question: What do thay mean by types of cancer or cancer is not a disease? Cancer is not one disease. It is an overgrowth of an organ or a part of your body. If you have an overgrowth in your brain, it can have problems and complications entirely different from an overgrowth of your thyroid gland. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Can soneone explain this better ? What do thay mean by types of cancer or not all cancer is the same? Than why are some cancer there is a cure?

Answer: Basically what cancer is is a cell type in your body loses it's regulation on it's ability to divide. Cells normally divide to regenerate, but most of the time they're in a resting state. Cancer occurs when the cells lose that regulation and begin dividing uncontrollably. They may also lose the outer cell markers which tell them to stay where they are and invade into surrounding or more distant structures. The overgrowth eventually can deplete energy stores (why cancer patients often look so gaunt) and can invade into surrounding tissues causing pain and/or failure of the invaded tissues. Not all cancers are the same, because they can arise from different cell types in the body. Different types of cancer behave differently as to where they invade and how aggressive they are. Some cancers are worse due to location. For example, a skin cancer is picked up early because you can see it, as opposed to a lung or pancreatic cancer which is in deep tissues and often don't present until it is advanced. Some cancers have a cure becau some cell types are more susceptible to the chemotherapeutic agents or radiation than others, or they can be removed surgically more easily. The really important thing with regards to cure is early diagnosis. Does that help?

Question: My mother was just diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer...? Hi guys. I guess I'm posting this here because the "Weddings Section" is where I hang out the most here on Yahoo Answers. Last night, I found out my Mom was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. We are not yet sure what stage or what type of cancer it is...but the Dr.s say it is very treatable with a good cure rate. I'm doing my best to be supportive, willing to help my Mom with her appointments, or help her with anything I can do. I know she needs surgery, then needs treatments. Mom has great chances to be cured. This is one of the easiest cancers to treat in early stages. I'm just stuck in such a depression right now...I'm scared. I watched my grandma die from breast cancer...and I don't want to lose my mother...although I know there is nothing I can do to "fix" this. I should be getting my Save the Date magnet envelopes ready, but I can't even think about my wedding. How can I be positive and shake off this depression? I can't find a "hopeful" spirit....I'm so scared... Mom is doing ok...she needs to schedule her surgery...there is really nothing I can do to help her right now, and I think that is part of why I'm so frustrated. I feel helpless. Mom told me to keep busy, and focus on positive things...which is why I probably should work on the envelopes for my magnets to be mailed out..(I already have the magnets)...but I'm feeling so lethargic...I just want to go home and hide. Thank you all for the posts so far. Yes, I am fully aware this is not really a wedding specific question...but I'm a "regular" here in Weddings...and I feel much better hearing from familiar names (Luv ya Blunt...thank you so much for your support) than I would find in other areas of this bulletin board. I did post this in the "Cancer" section...but I have not gotten nearly as much of a response. I have lots of friends to support me..but right now I'm at work...and I have been really feeling alone.

Answer: Hi Kat, unfortunately, I know more about "cancer" and "weddings" than I care to. I got married July 27th of this year and was diagnosed with advanced stage uterine cancer 2 weeks later. My honeymoon was postponed till a later date so I could go to doctors and start my chemotherapy. I was diagnosed too late for me to even harvest eggs for future chances of children via a surrogate, and will have a total hysterectomy before the end of the year fo all goes well. I can't tell you how much I sympathize with you. One thing I have learned through all this is to savor every moment you have. It's hard, but try not to let fear of what "may" happen ruin happy moments with your mom. I can tell you one thing, in some ways, cancer is much easier for the person who has it. I am much more positive and calm than my family, who is busy worrying about me. I understand your fear, but you don't get any re-do's in life...so enjoy your wedding planning with your mom, be positive and your mom will feed off that. A strong happy spirit is key to keeping her body strong and getting her through this. All my wishes of luck and health to you both!

Question: What type of pain meds would generally be prescribed for a patient suffering from anaplastic thyroid cancer?

Answer: The range is great depending on the individual. Bone pain from cancer or certain cancer treatment medications is handled differently than nerve pain, etc. Some common ones are acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, morphine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, dilauded, methadone, amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, trazodone, gabapentin, prednisone and dexamethasone. The method of application is also different depending on the individual -- pill form, patch form and pain pump form are common types.

Question: if scans can early detect cancer why r we not doing them often enough? i mean e.g. ultrasound and MRI scans that r harmless, and can detect cancer early before it is too late to cure it (some cancer types develop within 3 months rather then 3 years e.g. thyroid anaplastic cancer, etc . why r we not doing them say each 2-3 months to be on safe side? is it due to costs or pure stupidity? better be safe then sorry no?

Answer: I am afraid you just can't scan every bit of every patient, and then how often could you do scans anyway. Not only is it impractical, but it would create massive levels of paranoia in the worried well!

Question: A friend of mine told me 1 1/2 years ago that she had thyroid cancer. She has had no treatment and has not? been sick. She said the doctor told her they have to calm her thyroid down before they can treat her. How can she still be healthy and have this type of cancer with no treatment?

Answer: That is very strange. The typical course for thyroid cancer is to remove the entire thyroid, so it doesn't make sense that you would need to regulate the thyroid beforehand. On the other hand, thyroid cancer usually is very slow growing and usually doesn't have any symptoms so it's not unusual to wait a little bit of time, for example if there is another health issue that would prevent surgery immediately (like being pregnant). But 1.5 years seems like a lot of time.

Question: If someone has had Thyroid cancer, are they more likely to get another type of cancer.?

Answer: As with any type of cancer if you have had one your chances of getting another one does increase. There are alot of specifics out there such as did you have a total thyroidectomy, just a lobectomy or just a radiation pill to kill whatever is there that will also determine the answer to your question. The most common form of cancer that can derive from thyroid cancer is lymphoma. I will include some resources for you that have helped me in my search for thyroid cancer answers. I myself am a thyroid cancer survivor. I had a total thyroidectomy and am on levothroid everyday for the rest of my life. To date I have not developed cancer in any other system in my body but there is no gurantee that it will never happen.

Question: Thyroid Cancer Pain? What is the Cause and treatment? Is there an experienced Oncologist that can answer this? I have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (M.E.N. 1). It first manifested with parathyroid tumors (benign) as well as Thyroid Tumors (papillary malignancy). The indicating symptom which led to the diagnosis was severe joint pain in all major joints. The pain was first attributed to high serum calcium levels (13+) and an assumed psudogout condition from the high ca levels based on the joint pain. Total thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy completed. Then Metastasis to both lungs with approximately 20 3mm papillary tumors which after a V.A.T.S procedure found the tumors were mixed with sarcoid tissue. this is where I am at now. My question for you is this: I am still experiencing massive joint pains in my major joints. All blood chemistry is normal now and RA tests are negative. I take massive Morphine doses in order to just get up out of my chair. The joint pain is crippling, and none of my doctors have been able to find ANY REASON for the pain. CT's and MRI's are negative for psudogout or cartilage degeneration. Can the mere existence of the Thyroid Cancer tumors in my lungs be the cause of joint pain? Can my body just "hurt" because I have cancer? Is this type of complaint common? My doctors are less than understanding and are always hesitant to prescribe the pain meds for lack of a positive diagnosis and no physical evidence as to the cause of the pain. Could it be the sarcoid tissue causing the pain? Please help. I am so frustrated with my doctors, they never prescribe enough pain meds to allow me to get on my feet for any length of time, and I have 5 young kids to try to keep up with!

Answer: You might want to contact ThyCa http://www.thyca.org/ they would probably be able to help with some of your questions (Papillary Q's)... but they don't deal with M.E.N. Sarcoid tissue can cause aches and pains. I really think you should look for another doctor, one that will listen to all your concerns.

Question: how often to do routine (ultrasound) scans against cancer to be safe ? my grandmother died of thyroid anaplastic cancer. it killed her in 3 months. If she was undergoing screening ultrasound scans each year, it still would kill her, as this developed within few months. so we should do these scans each 2 weeks to discover this crap as soon as poss? this question applies to other cancer types that develop similarly quick and and can not be cure when give symptoms and that you are not safe doing routine scans say yearly.... obviously classic yearly check ups are not frequent enough!

Answer: You should undergo complete medical checkup every year. If there are abnormal signs and symptoms, then the doctor will conduct further tests including ultrasound scan.

Question: Why is BREAST cancer so important? Surely there are many, many types of cancer out there and most are fatal, so why is breast cancer getting so much publicity? How come, say, thyroid cancer doesn't have its own ribbon? Does breast cancer just have good PR people or something? What makes it "better" than other cancers?

Answer: Breast Cancer What is breast cancer and why does it happen? Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, and is found in one in eight women in the United States. It is a group of diseases in which cells in the tissues of the breast become abnormal and divide without order or control. These malignant cells form too much tissue and become a tumor. The tumor can grow into nearby tissue or cells break away and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system eventually affecting other organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/breastcancer/qa1.cfm

Question: what is cancer of the thyroid? my niece who is 30 text me today and told me she has cancer of the thyroid and a another tumor in her neck what is thyroid cancer how serious is this and what type of treatment will she have to go threw thank you all for your answers it does help to know

Answer: Sorry to hear about your nieces diagnosis. There are 4 main types of thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular being the most common...medullary and anaplastic being less common). They more common types usually involve surgery (lobectomy or total thyroidectomy, it depends how bid the tumor is). If they primary tumor has spread to the nodes and surrounding areas, Radioactive Iodine (RAI) is usually advised. With the less common types, other types of treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used. This site has wonderful information http://www.thyca.org/ Tell your niece about it, it will be very helpful for her. God bless!

Question: I went to the Dr. and have a swollen thyroid. What does this mean? I went to the Dr. and have a swollen thyroid. What does this mean? I didn't expect that. Whenever I type "swollen thyroid" in to yahoo. I get Thyroid Cancer. Has anyone ever had experiences with this? He didn't say a lump on my thyroid, he said swollen. He is ordering an Ultra Sound to determine what is going on but I wanted to hear from people what their experiences are with this. Any RN's or Docs out there would be great. If it is a sign of cancer, you can tell me. I am not scared of it. Also, I am a 35 year old female.

Answer: The rarest cause of a swollen thyroid (technically called a goiter) is cancer. Don't worry about that unless the doctor says to worry, after you've been tested More common causes of goiter are non-cancerous nodules, and even more common is congenital, idiopathic, or auto-immune hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. You really should be having blood tests along with your ultrasound to see if you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. If you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, you need further blood tests to determine the cause. At that point is when most people get their ultrasound, so you are ahead of the curve in that regard. But if you have not had blood tests yet, you need to get moving.

Question: Thyroid Cancer and Lymphoma? Hiya. I am going into surgery this Thursday to get my lymphodes and Thyroid removed because there is cancer in them. I was wondering what are your experiences AFTER surgery in this type of situation, just for some things I can expect.

Answer: Do you have lymphoma? cause if not it is very common for thyroid cancer to move in to the lymph nodes and they would just remove them so if you havent been diagnosed with lymphoma I wouldnt stress about having it. I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma 3 years ago had surgery to remove thyroid and some lymph nodes and after surgery youll be a little sore but for me it wasnt to bad I was able to go home the next day but one thing that I did notice was that right after surgery I was very ill vomiting a lot and they said that was normal so I wouldnt worry to much for now until you know everything