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Thyroid cancer mainly arises from thyroid follicular cells and is categorized into papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and medullary types. Globally, incidence is higher in the United States, Japan, and European countries, while Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia have shown a rising trend in recent years. Thyroid cancer poses a significant threat to patients’ lives, especially in advanced stages where it may invade critical neck structures, leading to severe complications.
In Southeast Asia, due to differences in screening and diagnostic capacity, the early detection rate of thyroid cancer is relatively low, and many patients present in the middle or late stages. Major hazards include neck masses compressing the trachea or esophagus, affecting breathing and swallowing. With the application of emerging technologies such as immune reconstruction cell therapy, patient survival rates and quality of life have significantly improved.
Stage I: Localized tumor, high survival rate
The tumor is confined to the thyroid and has not invaded surrounding tissues. Early cases often show no obvious symptoms, with detection usually through small neck nodules. The 5-year survival rate is about 90%-95%, and surgical outcomes are favorable.
Stage II: Local progression, slightly reduced survival rate
The tumor begins to invade tissues around the thyroid but has not metastasized distantly. Patients may experience neck swelling and mild compression symptoms. The 5-year survival rate is about 75%-85%.
Stage III: Regional lymph node metastasis, moderate survival rate
The tumor involves cervical lymph nodes, manifesting as enlarged neck masses and localized pain. Some patients may also experience hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. The 5-year survival rate is about 50%-70%.
Stage IV: Distant metastasis, low survival rate
The tumor has metastasized to distant sites such as the lungs or bones, causing severe symptoms like breathing difficulties and persistent pain. The 5-year survival rate is below 30%, requiring combined immune reconstruction cell therapy and targeted therapy.
1. Neck mass
The most common symptom is a painless anterior neck lump that gradually enlarges, feels hard, and has unclear boundaries, indicating tumor growth. The mass may restrict neck movement and affect daily life.
2. Hoarseness
Tumor compression or invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve can cause hoarseness or voice changes. Symptoms are mild in early stages but worsen later, with severe cases leading to breathing difficulties.
3. Difficulty swallowing
As the tumor grows, patients may feel a foreign body sensation or pain when swallowing, sometimes due to esophageal invasion.
4. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes
When regional lymph node metastasis occurs, multiple enlarged, hard lymph nodes may be felt in the neck, sometimes accompanied by tenderness.
5. Breathing difficulties
The tumor may compress or invade the trachea, causing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, which in severe cases requires urgent intervention.
6. Neck pain
A minority of patients may experience localized pain, particularly when the tumor grows rapidly or invades nerves.
7. Systemic symptoms
Advanced cases are often accompanied by fatigue, weight loss, fever, and other systemic discomforts, indicating disease progression.
8. Thyroid function abnormalities
Some patients may develop hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, presenting with palpitations, weight changes, and other symptoms, requiring differential diagnosis.
Thyroid cancer is a malignancy with a long latent period and atypical early symptoms, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial. Experts at United Life International Medical Center emphasize that, in addition to traditional surgery and chemoradiotherapy, immune reconstruction cell therapy offers new hope for advanced patients, significantly improving survival rates and quality of life. Public health awareness should be strengthened to recognize abnormal neck symptoms early, seek timely medical care, and ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
