Returning to Vietnam for a health check, the girl discovered thyroid cancer.

Ho Chi Minh City Lien, 25 years old, returned to Vietnam from the US to visit her family. She took the opportunity to have a health check-up and was diagnosed with early stage thyroid cancer.

Lien has been tired and sleepless for the past year but has not been able to arrange time for a medical check-up in the US. This time when she returned to Vietnam, she went to the Head and Neck Unit, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City for a check-up. The ultrasound results showed a tumor in the right lobe of the thyroid gland, with an 80% risk of malignancy. The biopsy results showed that Lien had stage 1 papillary thyroid cancer.

The doctor advised the patient to have surgery early to stop the cancer. The surgical team did not immediately remove the thyroid tumor but instead found the laryngeal nerve and separated it from the tumor to prevent the patient from becoming permanently hoarse. The doctor assessed that the tumor had not invaded the thyroid capsule (localized stage), the risk of recurrence was low, and decided to only remove the left lobe of the thyroid, preserving the right lobe, ensuring endocrine function. The doctor closed the wound, and sewed the patient's cosmetically, leaving a scar as small as a thread.

The cancer cells have not spread outside, so Lien does not need further treatment with radioactive iodine, nor does she have to take hormone replacement drugs.

On February 8, Master, Doctor, Specialist Le Thanh Tuan, Head and Neck Unit, said that thyroid surgery is very common, but if the doctor is not careful, the patient is at risk of hoarseness and bleeding within 24-48 hours after surgery. More serious complications may include numbness in the hands and feet due to surgery affecting the parathyroid gland, local fluid accumulation, swelling, and edema in the neck area.

Ms. Lien talks with Dr. Tuan after surgery. Photo: Nguyen Tram — Lien talks with Dr. Tuan after surgery. Photo: *Nguyen Tram*

The thyroid is an endocrine gland in the body, producing hormones that stimulate cell growth and development. Its main role is to affect the gonads and milk secretion, stabilize heart rate, blood calcium and brain activity, nervous system, maintain pregnancy, and promote fetal development.

Thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men. The disease is often asymptomatic in its early stages and is often detected during routine health check-ups or ultrasounds. The main treatment is surgery on one or both lobes of the thyroid gland.

In case of total thyroidectomy, the patient must take replacement hormone medication for life. People with too much hormone are prone to cramps, rapid heartbeat, hot flashes, and sweating, while those who take low doses of hormones are prone to cold and fatigue. Therefore, doctors often base on the age, weight, thyroid hormone test, and health of the patient to adjust the appropriate medication. Patients have a chance to recover if treated early.

Doctor Tuan advises patients to have regular health check-ups at hospitals with modern equipment to detect abnormalities accurately, and doctors to diagnose and treat appropriately. People with symptoms such as neck lumps, hoarseness, and mobile neck lymph nodes should see a doctor immediately for timely treatment.

Nguyen Tram

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