Cancer Answers 123

Filed under: Thyroid CancerThyroid glands, which are located in the front of the neck, regulate the body's metabolism; and thyroid tumors are quite common. Hearing that you have a thyroid tumor is not pleasant, but there are many ways they can be found. Patients often discover them as a lump in the throat. Doctors can find them during a routine exam. Often times, they are discovered during unrelated X-rays that include the neck. Many of these tumors are benign, and there is little likelihood that the tumor will become cancerous. Doctors can determine whether tumors are cancerous through blood tests, ultrasounds, a nuclear thyroid scan or a biopsy of the thyroid nodule. Even if the thyroid tumor is benign, large tumors can cause pressure on the neck and swallowing structures. While most thyroid nodules are benign, special attention should always be given to a new thyroid tumors including children, people under 30 or over 60, those with a family history and people who receive radiation therapy. If you are worried about developing thyroid cancer, talk to your doctor. Check out more cancer information at AOL Health.Permalink | Email this | Comments