How to detect thyroid cancer early

Thyroid cancer accounts for 1% of all cancers. In its early stages, it has a high chance of being cured. Therefore, early detection is crucial to increasing the survival rate for patients.

Regular health checkups help detect thyroid cancer early.

Currently, with the development of science and technology, many cases of thyroid tumors smaller than 5mm are detected. To detect the disease early and treat it promptly, experts and doctors recommend the following:

- If you notice any abnormalities in your body, such as a lump in the neck, palpable lymph nodes in the neck, or a feeling of tightness in the neck, you should see a doctor immediately.

- If a goiter is detected during the examination, you should immediately consult an endocrinologist to determine the cause and rule out the possibility of cancer.

Steps involved in diagnosing thyroid cancer.

After the examination, the doctors will follow these steps in order to accurately determine whether or not you have thyroid cancer.

Regular health checkups help detect thyroid cancer early.

- Diagnosis through thyroid nodules: Thyroid nodules are known as tumors in the thyroid gland. They can be felt or detected via thyroid ultrasound, appearing different from normal thyroid tissue. Ideally, patients should learn about the doctor's examination steps, such as clinical examination and assessment of the nodule. Afterward, a color Doppler ultrasound of the thyroid may be ordered to assess the characteristics and number of nodules and detect abnormal lymph nodes in the neck. If one or more nodules are detected, there is a 4-6% chance of thyroid cancer. Next, the patient will have a TSH (thyroid hormone) level test. Finally, a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, also known as FNA, will be performed.

- Performing FNA: FNA offers up to 95% accuracy in diagnosis. The aspirated cells are examined under a microscope. This method is used for all palpable tumors during examination and tumors 1 cm or larger detected by ultrasound. For tumors smaller than 1 cm detected by ultrasound, FNA is only performed if malignancy is suspected. FNA will also not be performed if blood TSH levels are low and the thyroid scintigraphy shows hot nodules.

According to the survey, the number of thyroid nodules with a higher incidence of cancer is higher in people under 30 and over 60 years old; those who have had previous head and neck radiation; or those with a family history of thyroid cancer.

Controlling thyroid disease with herbal remedies.

Currently in Vietnam, along with the application of modern technology to detect and treat thyroid diseases, including thyroid tumors, scientists have utilized the essence of traditional medicine to research and formulate functional foods from rare medicinal herbs. A prime example is seaweed – a food rich in iodine, a substance essential for thyroid function, supporting the treatment of thyroid diseases. Seaweed is used as the main ingredient in combination with other precious herbs such as: bitter ginseng extract, Scutellaria baicalensis extract, Triadica sebifera extract, neem extract… to enhance thyroid health, regulate the body's immune system, support and treat thyroid dysfunction, help prevent recurrence in patients who have undergone surgery or treatment with antithyroid drugs and radioactive iodine, reduce pain, and soften thyroid tumors.

Early detection of thyroid cancer, combined with the use of dietary supplements containing seaweed as the main ingredient to maintain normal thyroid function, will help you have a healthier thyroid gland.

According to Gia Dinh.net