Thyroid cancer is relatively rare and accounts for about 1% of all cancers in New Zealand. The disease can develop at any age and affects more women than men.
Fortunately, thyroid cancer treatment is highly effective, and the five-year survival rate sits at around 98%.
Thyroid cancer numbers in New Zealand have increased recently, but this appears to be an outcome of better, more comprehensive image scanning. Sophisticated imaging results in the detection of smaller (easier to treat) and often benign (harmless) cancers.
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Thyroid cancer types
The thyroid is an important gland. It’s located in the front of the neck (just below the voice box) and helps manage your metabolic and calcium levels. Sometimes, cells in the thyroid divide in an abnormal way and eventually grow into cancers.
There are a number of different types of thyroid cancer, including:
- Papillary
- Follicular
- Medullary
- Anaplastic
- Thyroid sarcoma or lymphoma.
Papillary thyroid cancer usually forms in one lobe of the thyroid gland and makes up approximately 80% of all cases. Follicular thyroid cancer occurs in around 20% of cases. The remaining thyroid cancers are relatively rare.
Each type has different characteristics; some grow slowly and are relatively easy to treat, while others grow quickly and spread aggressively.
Thyroid cancer symptoms
Many thyroid cancers have few noticeable symptoms - and those can easily be mistaken for other issues.
See your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- A lump in your neck (usually painless)
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Voice changes, such as hoarseness
- Swollen glands in the neck.
95% of thyroid lumps do not indicate cancer - but get them checked anyway.
Thyroid cancer diagnosis
The doctor will complete a physical examination to monitor the size and firmness of your thyroid lump and check for any swelling in nearby lymph nodes. They’ll also organise blood tests.
Although blood tests cannot provide a diagnosis for thyroid cancer, they give an overall picture of your thyroid health and can identify other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Blood tests also provide useful markers for monitoring thyroid response during and after treatment.
Your GP may then request some other tests, including:
- Ultrasound - creates images using sound waves. Ultrasounds identify whether a thyroid lump is fluid-filled or solid (more likely to be cancerous).
- Biopsy - doctors take a small tissue sample (usually via fine needle aspiration) for microscopic analysis.
- Laryngoscopy - a thin tube with a camera at the end checks the health of your vocal cords.
- MRI, CT, and PET scans help provide a clearer picture of the type of cancer and its spread.
You’ll be referred to a specialist if tests indicate that you have cancer. Its type, size, spread, and growth will shape your treatment programme. The medical team will take into account your age, health, and personal preferences.
Thyroid cancer stages
Doctors assign a stage classification to your tumour indicating its size and spread.
- Stage I - tumour sits inside the thyroid and is less than two centimetres in diameter.
- Stage II - tumour has not spread beyond the thyroid but could be as large as four centimetres.
- Stage III - tumour is any size and may have spread into neighbouring muscle tissue.
- Stage IV - tumour is any size and has spread into other parts of the body, such as the voice box, spine, or blood vessels.
Doctors may assign additional letters to your stage as well. These provide more detail about the spread of the cancer.
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Thyroid cancer treatment
Effective treatment for thyroid cancer can involve a number of options, including:
- Surgery - the partial or complete removal of the thyroid, as well as some lymph nodes.
- Hormone treatment - if the thyroid gland has been removed, you’ll take thyroid hormones (thyroxine) for healthy body function.
- Radioactive iodine therapy - often used after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy - highly focused x-rays target cancer cells. Doctors often recommend radiation therapy where cancer has spread to lymph nodes.
- Chemotherapy - powerful drugs that kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used if radioactive iodine therapy proves ineffective.
These treatments come with possible side effects, which your doctor will discuss with you.
After treatment, you’ll need regular follow-up testing to monitor your recovery and to check that all cancer has been removed with no sign of recurrence.
What causes thyroid cancer?
Although we do not know exactly what causes thyroid cancer, there are certain risk factors to be aware of. They include:
- Age and gender - women over 40 are more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.
- Genetics and family history - an immediate family member with thyroid cancer increases your risk of developing it, as do some inherited genetic mutations.
- Exposure to radiation - especially as a child.
- Obesity
- Thyroid issues - such as goitre or thyroid inflammation.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - this autoimmune condition may double your risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer prognosis
Your chances of surviving thyroid cancer increase with an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Generally, those afflicted with one of the common types of thyroid cancer have a very high five-year survival rate of 98%. Some of the rarer forms can be aggressive and more challenging to treat.
Are you prepared for life’s uncertainties?
You may not have thyroid cancer but that’s no guarantee it won’t happen to you or someone you love. Think about how health insurance can prepare you for the possibility.
And not all health insurance plans are the same. Some plans only pay for a tiny fraction of your treatment expenses.
Don’t let this happen to you. When buying health insurance, talk to a Policywise adviser about maximum benefit amounts for cancer treatments, non-Pharmac cover, inclusions, and any exclusions.
We provide clear, easy-to-understand plan comparisons from different insurers so you can choose the policy with the best cover. Our service is free - and it might just change your life for the better.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Nothing in this blog or on this website is intended as medical, dietary, or financial advice. Although we aim to update our content regularly, you are advised to consult a Policywise adviser, health professional, or an appropriate specialist before acting on any information herein. They can factor in your personal circumstances or preferences and help guide your decision-making process.