Regular health check-ups detect thyroid cancer

Ho Chi Minh City Mrs. Tam, 70 years old, during a routine health check-up, the doctor discovered early stage thyroid cancer.

Ultrasound results at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City showed that Mrs. Tam had two tumors on her thyroid. Biopsy results showed that she had papillary thyroid cancer, in the early stages, without metastasis.

On March 27, MSc. Dr. Ha Thi Ngoc Bich, Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, said that the 10-year survival rate after treatment of papillary thyroid cancer is 93%. The possibility of successful treatment is high, the surgery time and post-operative recovery are fast. If not treated or delayed, the tumor will grow larger, with a high possibility of metastasis to other places such as the lymph nodes in the neck, and further away, possibly to the lungs, bones, etc.

Mrs. Tam underwent surgery to remove her entire thyroid gland and remove lymph nodes on one side. The patient was placed with a negative pressure drainage tube along the surgical wound area to drain fluid, prevent post-operative fluid accumulation, and help the wound heal quickly.

Nurses in the Endocrinology - Diabetes department take care of Mrs. Tam's surgical wound. Photo: Dinh Tien — Nurses in the Endocrinology - Diabetes department take care of Mrs. Tam's surgical wound. Photo: *Dinh Tien*

After two days of surgery, her health was stable, Mrs. Tam could talk, eat, and was discharged from the hospital and returned for a follow-up visit after a week. One month later, the patient was tested and had an ultrasound to assess the risk of cancer, from which the doctor considered whether to prescribe radioactive iodine I131 treatment and thyroid hormone supplementation.

Thyroid cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in Vietnam. However, many people have not yet taken the initiative to get regular thyroid cancer screenings, according to Dr. Bich.

Thyroid cancer can be divided into four groups based on cell origin and characteristics, including papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Dr. Bich said that the 10-year survival rate for patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in all stages of the disease is 93% and 85%, respectively. The 10-year survival rate for medullary thyroid cancer is 75%. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is rare but dangerous, with a one-year survival rate of only 20%.

The cause of the disease is currently unknown. Some factors that may increase the risk include exposure to radiation (nuclear radiation, radiotherapy, etc.), family history of thyroid cancer, genetic syndromes (polyposis, multiple endocrine neoplasia, Carney syndrome, Cowden syndrome), goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis, etc.

Dr. Bich advises everyone, even those without risk factors, to have regular thyroid cancer screening to prevent dangerous complications.

Dinh Tien

* Patient's name has been changed

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