Thyroid Cancer Essay example -- essays research papers

The thyroidal secretory organ is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the nerve rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones ar essential for the function of every(prenominal) cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical substance reactions in the body. Thyroid hormones in any case help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the manage, below the Adams apple, wrapped more than or less the trachea. It has the shape of a butterfly with 2 lobes attached to one other by a middle part called the isthmus. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is involved in calcium metabolism and stimulating bone cells to add calcium to bone. Thyroid caner is a illness in which th e cells of the thyroid gland become abnormal, grow uncontrollably and get up a mass of cells called a tumor. Some tumors grow and enlarge altogether at the site where they began. These types of tumors are referred to as benign tumors. Other tumors non only enlarge locally, but they also have the potential to combat and destroy the normal tissues around them and to spread to other regions of the body. These types of tumors are called malignant tumors or crab louse.() Malignant tumors of the thyroid gland tend to develop piecemeal and remain localized. The tumors usually appear as nodules or lumps of tissue maturation on or inside the gland itself. Almost 95% of these lumps or nodules are non-cancerous (benign), and are usually caused by thyroid conditions such as goiters (Shin 422). The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be active 23,600 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. in 2004 (Thackery 1057). Women are one-third times more likely to develop thyroid ca ncer than men. Although the distemper also affects younger people, most people who develop thyroid cancer are over 50 years of age. Caucasians are affected more often than African-Americans (Rubin 88). There are four main types of thyroid cancers papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. These tumors are identified by the type of cells seen under the microscope. Papillary thyroid tumors come out most often. This type of thyroid cancer develops on one or b... ... people with thyroid cancer have no known risk of exposure factors. Therefore it may not be possible to prevent it. However, genetical cases of medullary thyroid cancer can be prevented if radiation to the bang is avoided (Longe 3308). If a family member has had the disease, the rest of the family can be testes and treated early. The content Cancer Institute recommends an examination for anyone who has received radiation to the head and neck area during childhood at intervals of one or two years. It is also rec ommended that the neck and the thyroid should be carefully examined for any lumps or gush of the nearby lymph nodes. Work CitedLonge, Jacqueline L. Thyroid Cancer. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2nd ed. 2001.Rubin, Alan L. Thyroid for Dummies. spic-and-span York, NY Hungry Minds, 2001.Shin, Linda M. Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Sourcebook. Detroit, MI Omnigraphics, 1998Surks, Martin I. The Thyroid Book. Yonkers, NY Consumer Reports Books, 1993Thackery, Ellen. Thyroid Cancer.