Chief Justice's Thyroid Cancer Draws Attention to Early Discovery
|
 |
 |
 |
Contributed by Carla Sharetto| 27 October, 2004 20:50 GMT
The announcement earlier this week that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist is battling thyroid cancer underscores the importance of early diagnosis of the condition. Justice Rehnquist is not alone. More than twenty thousand cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed every year in the U.S. -- just as many as cervical cancer -- yet millions of Americans remain undiagnosed, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) .
To underscore the importance of early detection, AACE is encouraging Americans to perform a simple self-exam called the "Thyroid Neck Check." Americans can screen themselves by simply checking for bumps or enlargements in the neck. If thyroid cancer is detected early, there is a high treatment success rate.
Thyroid Neck Check
To detect a thyroid abnormality early, follow these easy steps:
Stand in front of a mirror
Stretch neck back
Swallow water
Look for enlargement in neck (below the Adam's Apple, above the collar bone)
Feel area to confirm enlargement or bump
If a problem is detected, see an endocrinologist
Thyroid Cancer Facts
About 20,000 people in U.S. are diagnosed and treated for thyroid cancer every year
Currently, there are more than 200,000 thyroid cancer patients in the U.S.
Thyroid cancer often goes undetected because patients do not experience any symptoms.
10-15 million Americans have nodules that may be a sign of a thyroid disorder.
Thyroid cancer can be treated by surgical removal of the gland or radioactive-iodine treatments.
Non-functioning or surgically removed gland is treated with synthetic hormone Levothyroxine.
Thyroid cancer affects mostly women age 25 - 65.
Men who have nodules are three times more likely to have cancer.
Fine-needle tissue biopsy of nodule is the "gold standard test" recommended by AACE.
Cancer is prevalent in people exposed to head/neck radiation prior to 1950.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in front of lower neck area and provides hormones to regulate all vital organs.
If untreated, thyroid cancer can spread to other areas of the body.
Information about thyroid cancer, including AACE's medical guidelines on thyroid cancer and a thyroid cancer patient brochure, can be found at http://www.aace.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home 
Fitness & Exercise 
