Fatigue, drowsiness, constant yawning, lack of energy... could it be cancer?!

Friends

If you often feel

Fatigue, drowsiness, constant yawning, lack of energy

Feeling sleepy after eight or nine hours of sleep

Probably not because of not sleeping well.

The root cause of the disease may be

"thyroid"

In recent years, people have paid more and more attention to thyroid diseases. Thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid tumors have been mentioned more and more frequently. Recently, the topic #Some Internet celebrity has thyroid cancer# has become a hot search on Weibo, attracting a lot of attention.

Many netizens can't help but wonder, what kind of disease is thyroid cancer and how serious is it?

Today we will study:

What is thyroid cancer?

Is thyroid cancer a “lazy cancer”?

What symptoms should you pay special attention to?

Thyroid cancer?

The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine organ in the human body. High work pressure, frequent late night work, low immunity, smoking, drinking, pregnancy and other unhealthy lifestyle habits may cause abnormal thyroid hormone secretion. So what role does the thyroid gland play in our body?

People's Daily Science and Technology once published an article that the thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, above the sternum, in front of the neck, on both sides of the upper end of the trachea, and below the thyroid cartilage, which is 2-3 cm below the Adam's apple. It is divided into left and right lobes, and there is a narrow part between the two lobes that connects in front of the trachea, called the isthmus of the thyroid gland .

The thyroid gland looks like a "beautiful butterfly" and also like a "Dunjia". The thyroid gland is covered by the pretracheal fascia and fixed to the tracheal rings. Therefore, when swallowing, the thyroid gland moves up and down with the trachea.

The main function of the thyroid gland is to promote the body's metabolism and growth and development . It can also increase the excitability of the nervous system , promote appetite, enhance myocardial contractility, and increase heart rate to a certain extent.

When the thyroid gland functions abnormally, a series of pathological changes will occur. Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the thyroid follicular epithelium or parafollicular epithelial cells and is the most common malignant tumor in the head and neck.

According to pathological type, thyroid cancer can be divided into papillary carcinoma , follicular carcinoma , medullary carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma .

Among them, papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common, accounting for 85% to 90% of all thyroid cancers. Together with follicular thyroid carcinoma, it is collectively referred to as differentiated thyroid cancer. This type of tumor has mild biological behavior and a good prognosis. The 10-year survival rate can be as high as over 90% , so many people call it "lazy cancer."

Is thyroid cancer a “lazy cancer”?

I believe that many people, like Xiaoke, have heard others say that "most thyroid nodules are benign, and even malignant ones are the 'laziest tumors'". But in fact, this is not the case.

Wu Yijun, chief physician and director of the Department of Thyroid Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, said in an interview with People's Daily Online: "Most thyroid nodules are benign, and even malignant ones are the laziest tumors. This statement is only half right. In fact, there is a small number of thyroid cancers that are not so mild, such as medullary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer ."

Unlike other common types of thyroid cancer (which originate from follicular cells), medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that originates from parafollicular C cells (abbreviated as "C cells") and belongs to the neuroendocrine tumor category.

One-third of patients with medullary thyroid cancer will experience diarrhea and facial flushing because certain substances they secrete will stimulate intestinal peristalsis and secrete more fluid , causing diarrhea. At the same time, patients often have calcitonin indicators outside the normal range.

Although most thyroid cancers are "lazy cancers", patients should not take it lightly. Those with thyroid nodules must follow the doctor's advice for regular check-ups. Once symptoms such as diarrhea, flushed face, and hoarseness occur, seek medical attention for screening as soon as possible.

Be sure to pay attention!

The thyroid gland is known as the "life gland in the neck". It controls the secretion of thyroid hormones and regulates the body's energy metabolism, body temperature, heart, brain, muscles and other organs.

Therefore, once thyroid cancer occurs, it is best to intervene actively in the early stages. So what are the signs of thyroid cancer in the body?

The "Guidelines for Cancer Prevention and Screening (Popular Science Edition)" compiled by the National Cancer Center clearly points out 4 "typical symptoms" of thyroid cancer. Be careful if they occur!

1. Neck lumps

The early clinical manifestations of thyroid cancer are not obvious. It is usually discovered accidentally as a hard and uneven lump in the thyroid gland of the neck. The lump will gradually increase in size and move up and down with swallowing.

2. Local pain

In the late stage of thyroid cancer, the tumor is often immobile and is accompanied by local pain. It can often compress the trachea and esophagus , causing them to shift.

3. Hoarseness

When the local invasion of thyroid tumors is serious, patients usually experience hoarseness , difficulty swallowing or compression of sympathetic nerves , causing Horner syndrome ; if the cervical plexus is invaded, symptoms such as pain in the ears, pillow, shoulders, etc. will appear, and if the cervical lymph nodes are invaded, it is usually accompanied by swollen cervical lymph nodes.

4. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Corresponding clinical manifestations may occur when combined with abnormal thyroid function. For example, combined hyperthyroidism may be accompanied by symptoms such as facial flushing and tachycardia . Patients with special types of thyroid cancer, such as medullary thyroid cancer, may experience symptoms such as facial flushing and persistent diarrhea.

Warm reminder: The most important thing to prevent thyroid cancer is to keep a happy mood. In life, we must learn to regulate our emotions and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, which may help protect our thyroid gland.