Thyroid Cancer Treatment In India At Mumbai And Delhi At Low Cost.

Thyroid Cancer

Overview

Thyroid Cancer
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It makes hormones that help the body work normally. Anyone can get cancer of the thyroid gland. But certain factors may increase the risk. These include
* Being between ages 25 and 65
* Being a woman
* Being Asian
* Having a family member who has had thyroid disease
* Having radiation treatments to your head or neck
You should see a doctor if you have a lump or swelling in your neck. Your doctor can order tests to see if you have cancer and, if so, which type. Treatment depends on the type and how far the cancer has spread. They include surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Some patients receive a combination of treatments.

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that may point to thyroid cancer include the
following: –

* A lump, or nodule in the neck — especially in the front of the neck, in the area of the Adam’s apple. (Note: Sometimes, the lump or nodule will be growing quickly.) (Find out how to do a Thyroid Neck Check to look for lumps or enlargement.)
* Enlargement of the neck
* Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
* Hoarseness, difficulty speaking normally, voice changes
* Difficulty swallowing, or a choking feeling
* Difficulty breathing
* Pain in the neck or throat, including pain from the neck to the ears
* Sensitivity in the neck — discomfort with neckties, turtlenecks, scarves, necklaces

* Persistent or chronic cough not due to allergies or illness

* Asymmetry in the thyroid (big nodule on one side, nothing on the other)

* Nodules that when manipulated give the impression that the entire thyroid is moving (this is often a sign of an aggressive cancer)

* Nodules that cause the wind pipe to go to one side of the neck, as well as cause superior vena cava syndrome

* Some particularly aggressive thyroid tumors can go to the brain and cause neurological symptoms

Causes
Types of thyroid cancer
The type of thyroid cancer determines treatment and prognosis. Types of thyroid cancer include: –
* Papillary thyroid cancer. The papillary type of thyroid cancer is the most common, making up about 80 percent of all thyroid cancer diagnoses. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 30 to 50.

* Follicular thyroid cancer. Follicular thyroid cancer also includes Hurthle cell cancer. Follicular thyroid cancer typically occurs in people older than 50.

* Medullary thyroid cancer. Medullary thyroid cancer may be associated with inherited genetic syndromes that include tumors in other glands. Most medullary thyroid cancers are sporadic, meaning they aren’t associated with inherited genetic syndromes.

* Anaplastic thyroid cancer. The anaplastic type of thyroid cancer is very rare, aggressive and very difficult to treat. Anaplastic thyroid cancer typically occurs in people age 60 or older.

* Thyroid lymphoma. Thyroid lymphoma begins in the immune system cells in the thyroid. Thyroid lymphoma is very rare. It occurs most often in adults age 70 or older.

Risk factors
Factors that may increase the risk of thyroid cancer include: –
* Exposure to high levels of radiation. Examples of high levels of radiation include those that come from radiation treatment to the head and neck and from fallout from nuclear accidents or weapons testing.
* Personal or family history of goiter. Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid.

* Certain inherited genetic syndromes. Genetic syndromes that increase the risk of thyroid cancer include familial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia and familial adenomatous polyposis.

Exams and Tests
The diagnosis of thyroid cancer is usually established by examination of cells obtained from a fine-needle aspiration biopsy or a surgical biopsy of a thyroid nodule.

In a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, a thin needle is inserted through the skin into the thyroid nodule and cells are withdrawn into a syringe and sent to the laboratory for analysis by a pathologist.

Blood tests are generally not useful in determining whether a particular thyroid nodule is cancerous. Most patients with thyroid cancer have normal blood levels of thyroid hormones, including a thyrotropin (TSH) level.

Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Surgery
Surgery to remove all cancer in the neck and any cancerous lymph nodes is the initial therapy for most thyroid cancers. Complications are rare when the procedure is performed by an experienced thyroid surgeon.

Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive Iodine using I-131 is typically used as a follow-up to surgery, or “adjuvant” treatment in papillary and follicular thyroid cancers. This treatment is usually given two to six weeks following thyroid surgery. It involves giving high doses of I-131 in a liquid or pill form. Patients undergoing this treatment must restrict their dietary intake of iodine for approximately five to14 days before the treatment and must restrict their contact with children and pregnant women for three to seven days after treatment. The goals of this treatment include destruction of any remaining thyroid tissue in the neck, a reduction in cancer recurrence rate, and improved survival.

Radiation
Radiation treatment, known as external-beam radiation therapy, is used in patients with cancer that cannot be treated with surgery or is unresponsive to radioactive iodine, as well as for older patients with cancer that has distant spread. Radiation is sometimes combined with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is sometimes useful for progressive diseases unresponsive to radioactive iodine or radiation.

Clinical trials
Clinical trials are studies of new cancer treatments or new ways of using existing treatments. Enrolling in a clinical trial gives you the chance to try out the latest in cancer treatment options, but clinical trials can’t guarantee a cure. Ask your doctor whether you might be eligible to enroll in a clinical trial. Together you can discuss the benefits and risks of a trial and decide whether participating in a clinical trial is right for you.

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Insight Into Skin Cancer Treatments

There are several options available for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. The following are the normal procedures employed to determine whether a patient has skin cancer:

Skin examination by a qualified individual to check for bumps or spots that may look unusual in terms of color, size, shape, or texture.

A pathological examination (biopsy) procedure on a portion of the abnormal-looking growth to determine the presence of cancer cells. This can be accomplished in any of 3 methods: shave biopsy wherein a surgical razor is used to shave-off parts of the suspected growth; punch biopsy wherein an instrument called a trephine is used to remove a circle of tissue from the growth and excisional biopsy wherein the entire growth is removed surgically with the use of a scalpel.

Treatment and recovery of skin cancer depends significantly on the conditions or stage of the cancer, there is no sure fire method of treating and managing skin cancer as each case is unique to the individual and is also influenced by factors such as the type of the cancer, location and size of the tumor (whether it has metastasized or not) and the patients overall health and physical condition.

In the traditional method of treatment, there are four options available.

Surgery: There are various surgical procedures employed for the treatment of the non-melanoma type of skin cancer.

For superficial skin cancer Mohs micrographic surgery is the most common procedure wherein the tumor is gradually incised from the affected area of the skin in very thin layers and examined microscopically to verify the presence or absence of cancer cells. The procedure continues until the presence of cancer cells is negative.

Simple excision is the surgical removal of a tumor including some of the surrounding skin tissues.

Shaving the surface of the affected skin area with a surgical blade.

Cutting the tumor from the skin with a sharp tool resembling a small spoon and then treating the edges of the immediate area of the cut with electrical current to stop and control bleeding and destroy remaining cancer cells.

Another option is cryosurgery whereby the abnormal tissues are destroyed through freezing.

Using laser to cut affected skin tissue or remove malignant tumor.

Removal of the top layer of skin using a sander-type tool or skin defoliants to remove affected skin cells.

Radiation: Radiation cancer treatment therapy is the use of x-rays or radiation to destroy cancer cells. These can either be external by using a machine outside of the body or internal by introducing radioactive elements into or near the affected area.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to control the spread of cancer cells in the body. It can either be applied topically as a cream or lotion, orally or by intravenous and/or intramuscular injection into the patients vein or muscle.

Photodynamic Therapy: The use of drugs in combination with laser to destroy cancer cells. The drug is injected into the patients vein and remains inactive until it is subjected to laser via fiber optic tubes at which time it becomes active and kills the cancer cells.

There is one thing in common with all of the above mentioned traditional treatment options for skin cancer they are generally invasive.

Although there is nothing wrong with the methodology, alternative methods of skin cancer treatment, which are now gaining acceptance in the West, espouse a holistic approach in the treatment of skin cancer or an illness. A holistic approach is geared towards the mental, physical and emotion aspects of the patient and not just the physical symptoms of the illness.

They proceed from the premise that an individual gets sick simply because his immune system is weak and can not fight the virus that attacks the system. For treatment to be successful, it is therefore necessary to strengthen a persons immune system including emotional and physical resources in order to combat threats to the body.

In the traditional model of Western medicine, once skin cancer is diagnosed and determined the only acceptable form of treatment is the clinical model. However, a study of the alternative approaches to prevention and treatment reveal that in consonance with the traditional method both can be very effective in treating advanced skin cancer.

Medical experts are aware that certain minerals and antioxidant vitamins that can be derived from fruits and vegetables help repair damaged body tissues and promote the regeneration of healthy skin.

Now, medical practitioners are advocating the use of alternative methods of skin cancer prevention and treatment through a healthy diet and active lifestyle in order to protect individuals from the harmful effects of sunlight the number one factor directly related to skin cancer development.

An active and healthy lifestyle and regular exercise is necessary in order to combat skin cancer since even stress cause the weakening of the immune system which then makes individuals more prone to sickness.

With proper exercise such as yoga, tai chi, running and even acupuncture, the bodys immune system can be made stronger even if skin cancer is already at an advanced stage.

Coupled with a healthy and nutritious diet, individuals stand a better chance to fight skin cancer and strengthen the immune system to fight off the malignant cancer cells.

One of the more promising discoveries is the effect of green tea towards skin cancer. Taken orally or applied topically, green tea shows a striking effect on the skin in relation to cancer and carcinogens because it is a natural antioxidant. Green tea antioxidants (medical term green tea polyphenols) show a remarkable ability to prevent and inhibit the growth of various types of skin cancers from basal cell carcinoma to melanoma in tests carried out on animals and human patients.

However, those already suffering from skin cancer should never self medicate. It is good practice to consult with your doctor regarding the use of traditional and alternative form of treatments since there may be an interference effect between the two when taken together. Discussing any alternative treatment options with your cancer doctor ensures faster recovery and future prevention.