Thyroid cancer can take an average of four and a half years to diagnose as it one of of the rarest, so the people are being urged to understand what warning signs they should be looking out for....CONTINUE READING
According to the NHS, thyroid cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cancer cases in the UK and it can be hard to know whether you have it or not. Many symptoms of thyroid cancer are vague and may mimic other less-serious conditions, it’s possible you could have thyroid cancer for months or even years without knowing it.
In a study by the University of Aberdeen, researchers found it takes an average of 4.5 years for a thyroid condition to be diagnosed, with this taking considerably longer for patients with hypothyroidism. In most cases (almost two thirds of respondents) it took multiple appointments and a worsening of the severity of symptoms before a diagnosis was made.
This type of cancer is found in the thyroid gland, which is located at the lower part of your neck – below your voice box and above the windpipe. Your thyroid glands helps your body by producing and releasing hormones that can aid with digestion, heart and muscle health. The thyroid gland releases three separate hormones: triiodothyronine – known as T3, thyroxine – known as T4 and calcitonin.
You usually have several tests to check for thyroid cancer. If you have cancer these tests can also help your doctor decide what treatment you need. These tests include:
Thyroid cancer can take years to diagnose
Your type of thyroid cancer depends on the type of cell the cancer starts in. There are different types of thyroid cancer including:
The NHS says the cancer is quite rare and typically affects women more than men. Women are two to three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. It’s unclear why this is, but it may be a result of the hormonal changes associated with the female reproductive system.
The most common symptoms include:
Other symptoms can include:
Anyone can get thyroid cancer. It’s not always clear what causes it. You might be more likely to get it if:
