Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer is one form of cancer of the thyroid gland. The disease begins in the parafollicular cells, or C cells, which release calcitonin, a hormone that works to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. Medullary thyroid cancer... Full Answer

The symptoms of medullary thyroid include pain in the neck when swallowing and a visible or easily detectable lump on the thyroid gland. People with this type of thyroid cancer may also cough or cough up blood, have problems breathing because of airway... Full Answer

The cause of medullary thyroid cancer is currently not known. Most cases are called sporadic, which means they are not hereditary and do not run in families. Your risk of medullary thyroid cancer increases if you have a history of it in your family.... Full Answer

Physicians typically diagnose medullary thyroid cancer with a test to measure the level of serum calcitonin in the body. Calcitonin is produced by C-cells in the thyroid gland. If the level is high, your doctor may suspect medullary thyroid cancer. Other... Full Answer

Medullary thyroid cancer is primarily treated with surgery. A thyroidectomy, or removal of most or all of the thyroid gland, and surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes in the neck has proven to be a successful way to treat this type of cancer. Sometimes... Full Answer

After a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer, there are many questions you can ask your doctor. It is important for you to know what stage your cancer is in, as well as the treatment options available. As your doctor outlines your options, be sure to... Full Answer

People who are have a family medical history of genetic disorders, including tumors, are most at risk for inherited medullary thyroid cancer. The other type of this cancer, called sporadic medullary thyroid cancer, can affect anyone. However, sporadic... Full Answer

One of the risk factors for medullary thyroid cancer is if the disease runs in your family. If that is the case, it is important to speak with your doctor, who may recommend a specialist. For people who are genetically prone to medullary thyroid cancer,... Full Answer

Medullary thyroid cancer is a serious disease that is difficult to treat. One of the most uncommon forms of thyroid cancer, it can invade other parts of the body, including the liver, lungs, and bone tissue. Surgery is the only effective way of treating... Full Answer

Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for about three percent of all the people diagnosed with thyroid cancer. While thyroid cancer is not as common as many other types of cancer, doctors diagnose between 34,000 and 37,000 new cases each year. That means... Full Answer