Endocrine glands are responsible for making and releasing various hormones into our bloodstream. They also help regulate mood, growth, reproduction, and metabolism. The glands include the hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid and parathyroid glands, thymus, and adrenals. Thyroid cancer is a type of endocrinal cancer that begins in the thyroid and may spread to other surrounding tissues and organs. Recognizing early symptoms is imperative for timely intervention and formulating an appropriate treatment plan.

Symptoms
The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped and is situated in the front of our neck. Four types of cancer can begin in the thyroid gland. Papillary cancer is the most commonly occurring thyroid cancer. However, with considerable improvement in accessible and affordable screening and treatment options, the number of people with thyroid cancer is continuously reducing. The other three types of thyroid cancer are follicular, medullary, and anaplastic cancer. Symptoms are not noticeable in all these cancers in the initial stages. As the tumor grows, one may notice the following:

• Pain in throat and neck
• Lump or nodule that one can feel when they touch the neck
• Shirt collars become tight
• Subtle or noticeable change in voice
• Increasing hoarseness while speaking
• Difficulty while swallowing saliva or food
• If the symptoms persist, it is important to consult a doctor who will thoroughly examine them. If they suspect cancer, they may refer you to an endocrinologist or an oncologist for further tests and evaluation.

Treatment options
A team of oncologists, endocrinologists, and oncology surgeons will collaborate to determine the appropriate treatment plan upon confirmation of the cancer’s localization or spread outside of the thyroid to distant organs such as the lungs or bones. The treatment aims to remove the tumor or cancer cells and prevent it from spreading or recurring. After diagnosis, the medical professionals initiate the treatment by combining one or more of the best available treatment options. Doctors dedicate time to advising patients about the effects and potential side effects of surgery and other forms of therapy. Surgeries for thyroid cancer are generally safe and may require hospitalization for only a few days. There are various treatment options available for thyroid cancer, including:

Active surveillance
Active surveillance refers to a watch-and-wait approach if the cancer is small. Doctors frequently screen and monitor the patient to see if the cancer has grown.

Surgery
Surgery is the first and foremost treatment for the different types of thyroid cancer. The following are the different surgical techniques doctors use:

• Lobectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove the cancerous lobe in the thyroid in case of papillary or follicular thyroid cancer.
• Doctors use a procedure called thyroidectomy to remove the thyroid gland in part or full.
• Lymph node removal is a surgical technique used to remove lymph nodes if the tumor or cancer has spread outside the thyroid. This procedure will be done alongside lobectomy or thyroidectomy.

Radioactive iodine ablation
Radioactive Iodine Ablation employs radioactive iodine to destroy potentially cancerous thyroid tissues. It can be used alone or in combination with surgery to remove any remaining tissues.

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy
If a person has undergone a total thyroidectomy, doctors would prescribe hormone replacement therapy in the form of pills to replace the hormones made by the thyroid gland.

Doctors also use chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy to treat any cancer.