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What does thyroid cancer manifest? Can hoarseness be a symptom of thyroid cancer? Could this be the basis for suggesting such a diagnosis? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
What is thyroid cancer?
Good day. My name is Adam. I recently visited my Grandma who is now living in a nursing home. Unfortunately, I noticed that she started to feel worse than a month ago. While feeding, she has trouble swallowing meals and – what’s worse – her tone of voice has changed. Now he has a slight hoarseness. What could it be the result of? After examination, the doctor said that it could even be thyroid cancer. What do you say? What are the specific symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Is hoarseness and a problem with swallowing enough to make such a diagnosis? I would not like Grandma to end up on the operating table, because at her age every operation is a serious threat to life. He also found that Granny’s neck is slightly thicker. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t really noticed it before, but on my last visit it was actually a bit bigger. I am asking for more detailed information regarding symptoms of thyroid cancer. Still, I hope Grandma just caught a cold. I don’t want to question the medical diagnosis, but I have the impression that it is a bit too severe. Everyone can make a mistake, and so can the doctor. Regards Adam from Katowice.
The doctor indicates possible symptoms of thyroid cancer
Dear sir, the presented symptoms are non-specific and it is impossible to talk about thyroid cancer immediately on the basis of them. Of course, thyroid cancer may be one of the causes of this condition, but as I wrote, a change in the timbre of the voice and hoarseness do not immediately indicate this etiology. You’re asking about the symptoms of thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, in most cases, cancer can develop without any symptoms for a long time, moreover, the first symptoms may result from the presence of metastases, not the primary tumor.
Symptoms that may be a sign of cancer include an enlarged neck circumference, hard and enlarged lymph nodes, and a palpable lump in the thyroid gland, especially one that is hard, immobile and painless. If the cancer begins to infiltrate adjacent structures, you may experience uncomfortable hoarseness, neck pain, swallowing disorders, a feeling of shortness of breath and bone pain.
Your grandmother’s symptoms may indicate thyroid goitre, hence hoarseness, swallowing disorders or enlarged neck circumference. I suggest that the patient goes to the family doctor, because blood tests should be performed, especially TSH, fT3 and fT4, and ultrasound of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes in the neck should be performed.
Sometimes hoarseness and difficulty swallowing are caused by the reflux of gastric contents to the throat, which is symptomatic of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The acidic stomach contents irritate the larynx, especially the vocal chords, which causes hoarseness. Pain when swallowing may be the result of irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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