Thyroid Cancer Prognosis Bright

Generally speaking, thyroid cancer prognosis
looks bright. In people under 45, this disease is cured. When it
isn’t completely curable, most people thrive many years after
discovery.

There isn’t a definitive way to predict what outcome you can expect,
as it depends upon the type and stage of the cancer. There are variables
such as general health, age and how well you react to
treatment.

We’ll lay-out prognosis
according to type, but please do not dwell in the negative. You are
unique! It is possible to beat the odds. Just file the facts under
information good to know.

The National Cancer Institute reports about 56,000 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. annually. Papillary Thyroid Cancer is the most common. This type doesn’t always manifest symptoms: a nodule in the thyroid is usually the first sign.

Papillary and Follicular

These are the two types with the highest cure rate.
Especially, in younger people where the cure rate is above 97% when
properly treated.

These two cancers are treated surgically by
removing the cancerous lobe and either all or the majority of the other
lobe.

Medullary

The thyroid cancer prognosis
for medullary type is not as optimistic, but on the bright side it is
far less common. Medullary cancer involves the lymph nodes. It spreads
quickly among significant numbers of lymph nodes in the very early
stages.

It makes sense that medullary surgery is far more aggressive than it
is for papillary or follicular cancer, which is localized. In addition
to total removal of the thyroid, the surgeon must perform a dissection
in the neck area to remove lymph nodes from front and sides of neck.

Anaplastic

The least common type is anaplastic  and it is rated with an lower prognosis. This cancer has already spread before being diagnosed.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer survivors are rare, as it is next to
impossible for the surgeon to remove the total tumor. Most people
require a tracheostomy during treatment.

Thyroid Cancer and Staging

The extent of cancer is called its “stage”. Medical practitioners use staging to determine your treatment plan and thyroid cancer prognosis.
The stage is decided by examining the size of the largest tumor in the gland and/or establishing if it has spread to other body parts,
such as lymph nodes.

The “formula” is: tumor size, lymph node status, distant metastasis or TNMTNM.

What is the Five-Year Survival Rate?

This is where researchers follow a group of people with thyroid
cancer, who survive five-years after diagnosis. From this number, a
percentage is determined. The percentage does not serve as a predictor
for individuals. We are all different and respond differently to
treatment.

For example, 99.5% of people meet the five-year milestone when Thyroid Cancer is localized.

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