Thyroid cancer
Overview
What is thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer develops from the tissues of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck where the cells grow abnormally and potentially spread to other areas of the body. The thyroid gland helps to regulate hormones in the body. Thyroid cancer is generally asymptomatic during its early stages.
How common is thyroid cancer
An estimated 56,000 new diagnosis of thyroid cancer are projected in the US this year, with an expected 98% 5 year survival rate.1
Questions regarding your thyroid cancer therapy
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1. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html as of 9/20/17
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer
Symptoms can include:
- Swelling or a lump in the neck near the Adam’s apple
- Enlarged lymph node
- Pain in the front region of neck
- Changes in voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent cough not caused by a cold
The cause of thyroid cancer is not well understood, but usually involve a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Typically thyroid cancer is identified through routine examination of the neck or unexpectedly through an x-ray performed for other reasons.
The cause of thyroid cancer is not well understood, but usually involve a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Typically thyroid cancer is identified through routine examination of the neck or unexpectedly through an x-ray performed for other reasons.
How is it diagnosed
If you or your doctor suspect thyroid cancer, several screening, tests, and procedures can be used to confirm a diagnosis.
- Physical examination of the neck, thyroid, throat and lymph nodes
- Blood tests
- Thyroid hormone levels
- Thyroid-simulating hormone (TSH)
- Tg and TgAb – Thyroidglobulin (Tg) or Thyroidglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
- Ultrasound
- Biopsy
- Fine needle aspiration
- Surgical biopsy
- Molecular testing of tumor
- Molecular testing of tumor
- X-ray
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
Subtypes
What are the subtypes of thyroid cancer
- Differentiated - Tumors that look similar to normal tissue under a microscope
- Papillary: Most common type of thyroid cancer, often spreading to the lymph nodes. Occurs more frequently in women aging between 20 and 55.
- Follicular: Also known as Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma, developing from follicular cells and grows slowly. It accounts for 15% of thyroid cancer and occurs most commonly in women over 50.
- Huthle Cell: Also called Huthle Cell Carcinoma arising from follicular cells and more likely to spread to the lymph nodes than other types of follicular cancers.
- Undifferentiated – Cells are very immature and do not look like cells in the tissue which it originated from
- Medullary: Type of Thyroid Carcinoma which originates from parafollicular cells. Developing in the C cells and possibly the results of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). These tumors are the third most common of all thyroid cancers.
- Anaplastic: A rare yet aggressive tumor with poor response to treatment due to its aggressive behavior causing pressure symptoms. Due to the its rapid growth, treatment can often times be difficult.
Medications
Thyroid cancer
Accredo, a specialty pharmacy for thyroid cancer, dispenses specialty and non-specialty thyroid cancer medications including (but not limited to):
Drug | Generic/Biosimilar | Manufacturer |
---|---|---|
Caprelsa® (vandetanib) | Sanofi Genzyme | |
Gavreto™ (pralsetinib) | Genentech, Inc | |
Lenvima (lenvatinib) | Eisai | |
Nexavar® (sorafenib) | Bayer | |
Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa for injection) | Genzyme Corp |
Accredo also dispenses traditional chemotherapy medications as well as supportive care medications ordered by your prescriber that are not listed above.
Financing Your Care
Financial assistance coordination may be available to help with your medication costs, including manufacturer and community programs. Accredo representatives are available to help find a program that may work for you.
Financial Guidance
Life-saving specialty medication can be expensive. Learn how the Accredo teams help individuals find ways to afford the medication they need to survive in this video.
Find Support
There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for thyroid cancer. See below for a few of those organizations.
Thyroid Cancer Organizations
There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for thyroid cancer. See below for a few of those organizations.
- ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivor’s Association
- American Thyroid Association
- Light of Life Foundation
- REACT Thyroid Foundation
Cancer Support Organizations
There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for cancer. See below for a few of those organizations.
- American Cancer Society
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Association of Cancer Online Resources
- Cancer Support Community
- Livestrong Foundation
- OncoLink
- National Foundation for Cancer Research
- Prevent Cancer Foundation
- Conquer Cancer Foundation
- Inspire.com
- CancerCare
- Cancer GRACE
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Patient Advocate Foundation
Government Organizations
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