The Department of Health has designated the fourth week of September as the Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week! This year’s theme, “Neck Mo, Check Mo: ToDOHng Alaga, iwas sa Thyroid Cancer” aims to bring awareness to thyroid cancer, its risk factors and the path towards improvement.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that generates thyroid hormones and is positioned near the base of the neck. Thyroid hormones are crucial because they affect the function of every other cells, tissues, and organs in the body. Your heart, brain, liver, and kidneys, for example, all rely on the proper quantity of thyroid hormone to function properly. Iodine, a mineral found in some foods (such as seafoods and dairy products) and iodized salt, is used by the thyroid gland to help manufacture hormones that regulate heart rate, body temperature, metabolism, and blood calcium levels.
Thyroid cancer is caused by a number of circumstances, including radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid problems. Iodine deficiency is also linked to an increased risk of cancer. Thyroid cancer is identified substantially more frequently in women than in males, according to study. Initially, the sick individual may show no signs or symptoms at all. A lumpy area at the front base of the neck below the Adam's apple, changes in the voice such as increasing hoarseness, pain in the throat area and difficulty swallowing, and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck area are some of the usual symptoms as it progresses.
A thorough physical examination, as well as other procedures such as ultrasound, blood tests, and biopsy, are usually used to diagnose thyroid cancer. Treatment will vary depending on the type of cancer and its stage. The thyroid gland is removed, either partially or completely, as the primary medical treatment. If the cancer has spread, it may be necessary to remove some of the surrounding lymph nodes at the same time. Other treatment approaches may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and Radioactive iodine treatment.
If you've been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, your doctor will most likely prescribe thyroid medication to help you manage your symptoms and keep your thyroid hormone levels in check. Being an informed patient and collaborating with your healthcare practitioner are both significantly essential. Also, a balanced diet with the right amount of iodine will help your body stay healthier in general.
On the other hand, it's worth noting that enough thyroid hormone during pregnancy is critical for a baby's optimal brain development. Because a newborn cannot generate thyroid hormone until much later in pregnancy, a baby relies on thyroid hormone given from the mother through the placenta throughout the critical stages of brain development in early pregnancy. We know that severe hypothyroidism in pregnant women could have negative consequences for their children's development, such as lower IQ scores.
Thyroid awareness is the key to helping people recognize the symptoms of thyroid problems as early as possible. With better awareness, people will know when to talk to their doctors about testing and treatment. The National Nutrition Council urges everyone to take part in the fight to treat undiagnosed thyroid conditions and even other forms of cancer. (NOIIAurel/OIC-NPC)
