Don't underestimate thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer is a malignant disease that can progress and metastasize, posing a serious threat and leading to a high mortality rate if not detected and treated promptly. However, science has shown that the 5-year survival rate for thyroid cancer patients detected early and treated promptly can reach up to 92%.

Báo Cà Mau•17/06/2025

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Numbness in one hand and lung cancer.

Thyroid cancer only occurs in the cells of the thyroid gland, located at the bottom of the neck. The cause of this cancer is a disruption in the production of hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and even weight. According to oncologists, not all thyroid tumors require surgery; in fact, some tumors may remain dormant for many years without growing larger than when they first formed.

Ms. HTP, 44 years old, residing in Hamlet 4, Ward 5, Ca Mau City, is suffering from late-stage metastatic thyroid cancer and is currently receiving examination, care, and palliative treatment at home from staff at the Ward 5 Health Station.

However, if left uncontrolled, thyroid tumors can grow larger over time. At this point, complications can arise, causing compression, difficulty swallowing, and even, more dangerously, choking in the neck. Furthermore, it can cause many other endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, requiring patients to take Levothyroxine hormone for life, further exacerbating their suffering from the disease.

Therefore, patients should proactively get screened before it's too late. First, they need to be assessed early by a specialist to determine the risks to the tumor (low or high), whether it will grow and cause complications. The next step is proper care, including: what foods the patient should eat; how to rest appropriately; and treatment methods according to a specific protocol for each individual patient. This is how to control the tumor's unwanted growth.

Ms. HNX (69 years old), residing in Hamlet 6, Ward 5, Ca Mau City, is undergoing treatment for breast cancer and recently discovered a malignant thyroid tumor at Can Tho Oncology Hospital. In addition to her hospital stay, she receives regular health check-ups and consultations at home from staff at the Ward 5 Health Station.

According to Dr. Tran Hien Khoa, Director of the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control: “Currently, science has not yet precisely determined the fundamental cause of thyroid cancer. However, there are some correlations that suggest that these may be factors increasing the risk of developing this disease, such as: genetic factors; gender (women have a 2 to 4 times higher rate of malignant thyroid tumors than men); thyroid disease; people who are frequently exposed to radioactive substances; and even environmental factors…”.

Typically, thyroid tumors are visible to the naked eye (due to their size), feel distinctly firm to the touch, and move with the patient's swallowing. In addition, abnormal lymph nodes may appear on the same side as the tumor. Most cases of thyroid cancer have a good prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate (if detected early) often exceeding 90%.

However, this also depends on other objective factors such as: the stage of disease development, the patient's age, health status, type of histopathology, the method and timing of treatment, and even the patient's response to the treatment regimen... In reality, among endocrine cancers, thyroid cancer is the most common disease today. This is because thyroid cells have abnormal growth. If it is in a late stage, thyroid cancer can metastasize to the brain, bones, lungs, etc.

Ms. TTQ, 62 years old, residing in Hamlet 4, Ward 9, is suffering from stage 3 cancer and is being visited and encouraged by hamlet officials.

Dr. Chau Tan Dat, Head of the Oncology Department at Ca Mau General Hospital, advises: “Although thyroid cancer has a lower mortality rate compared to some other cancers, this is only true when detected early. Conversely, the danger increases, and treatment becomes more difficult when the disease is detected later and is progressing to a severe stage. Therefore, when noticing any unusual symptoms, patients should proactively seek examination at specialized medical facilities for diagnosis and timely treatment if it is cancer.”

Phuong Vu

Source: https://baocamau.vn/khong-chu-quan-voi-ung-thu-tuyen-giap-a39623.html