There are different opinions among patients around the diseases of each organ or system. These opinions are passed from mouth to mouth and instilled in the minds of people. This information is not always verified and correct.
For example, the same can be said about diseases of the thyroid gland, or rather, cancer of the thyroid gland. There are many myths around this diagnosis among patients that scare people very much and do not allow patients who already have thyroid pathologies or thyroid cancer to live in peace. Consider these myths in more detail.
Myth 1. Pills instead of surgery for thyroid cancer
People who have been offered surgery for thyroid nodules often refuse it. The reason is that some patients, to the extent of their knowledge from obscure sources and the formation of incorrect conclusions, firmly believe that if there is a node that can develop into thyroid cancer, it should be treated conservatively. So, among the 12.5 thousand women who had nodes in the gland and were offered surgery, only 700 of them decided on the operation. The rest decided to continue conservative therapy with tablets.
But if nodules larger than 1.5 centimeters in diameter are detected, a planned surgical intervention is indicated in order to prevent the transformation of the nodule into thyroid cancer. If a node is found from 1 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, control examinations are carried out for six months. If the node grows, surgery is also indicated. Conservative therapy, according to the observations of endocrinologists, does not improve the situation, but only takes time.
Myth 2. Thyroid cancer is a contraindication to pregnancy
One year after radical treatment of thyroid cancer, a woman can become pregnant. If the cancer is detected during an existing pregnancy, treatment tactics depend on the gestational age:
- If there are no contraindications to surgery, the woman is operated on.
- If this is the third trimester of pregnancy, the operation can be delayed until the postpartum period.
- In the aggressive course of thyroid cancer (medullar cancer, highly differentiated form), it is recommended that a woman be operated on regardless of the risk of fetal loss.
- Medical abortion is indicated for anaplastic or poorly differentiated cancer. Such cases are quite rare.
Highly differentiated thyroid cancer is not inherited. But, if there is a history of nodular goiter or thyroid cancer in the family, all people in the family, especially women, have a high risk of thyroid disease.
Myths about thyroid cancer treatment
There are a few other myths about thyroid treatment when thyroid cancer is detected.
Myth 3. Blood tests can diagnose cancer
The diagnosis of thyroid cancer can only be established on the basis of histological examination. In the blood test, you can see some indicators that should alert the doctor regarding the likelihood of certain forms of cancer of the gland. Thus, an elevated level of calcitonin indicates the likelihood of medullary cancer. An increase in thyroglobulin concentration may indicate the likelihood of developing papillary or follicular thyroid cancer.
Myth 4. Hair falls out after radioactive iodine therapy
Systemic administration of radioactive iodine in the treatment of thyroid cancer when cancer is detected, unlike chemotherapy or local wave therapy, does not give such a side effect. Side effects such as nausea, dry mouth and general malaise are possible from radioactive iodine treatment of the thyroid gland.
Myth 5. Radioiodine therapy provokes the development of breast cancer
It is not clear why, but it is believed that if a woman has thyroid cancer, she is at a high risk of getting breast cancer as well. This is associated with the intake of radioactive iodine. Probably, this opinion appeared because breast cancer ranks first in oncological incidence among women. But this does not mean that if you find thyroid cancer, you should also worry about the development of breast cancer.
Myth 6: People with food allergies should not be treated with radioactive iodine
One month before the treatment of the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine, products that contain fluorine, iodine and bromine (iodized salt, seaweed) are excluded from the diet, it is not recommended to use fluorinated toothpastes. There is no connection between allergies and iodine.
Myth 8. Taking L-thyroxine leads to an increase in body weight
The use of thyroxine for the treatment of the thyroid gland can be accompanied by an increase in body weight only when the dose is incorrectly selected. In this case, the person is in a state of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, and an increase in body weight is possible. When taken correctly, the body's need for hormones is fully compensated, and such effects are not observed.
Share:
Add a comment