Finding a lump on your neck usually causes immediate concern. Many people's first association is with cancer. Although this possibility exists, it is important to know that the majority of nodules found in the region are benign. Still, no persistent changes should be ignored.
Green July: can a lump on the neck be a sign of thyroid cancer?
Finding a lump on your neck usually causes immediate concern. Many people's first association is with cancer. Although this possibility exists, it is important to know that the majority of nodules found in the region...
During Green July, the month dedicated to raising awareness about head and neck cancer, it is worth drawing attention to a type of tumor that has been diagnosed more frequently in recent decades: thyroid cancer.
The thyroid is a small gland located in the front part of the neck and responsible for producing hormones that regulate important functions of the body, such as metabolism, body temperature, heart rate and energy expenditure. Nodules may appear there, especially in women and with advancing age.
The good news is that the vast majority of these nodules are not cancer. It is estimated that more than 90% are benign. The challenge is to identify those that need further investigation. Among the main risk factors for thyroid cancer are previous exposure to radiation in the neck region, especially during childhood, and a family history of some types of the disease. Still, most people diagnosed with thyroid cancer do not have a clearly identifiable risk factor.
In many cases, thyroid cancer does not cause pain or other symptoms in the early stages. Some people only notice a small lump in their neck, while others discover the change during a routine exam or an ultrasound performed for another reason.
There are, however, some signs that deserve attention, especially when they persist for more than two weeks. These include increased volume in the neck, persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, sensation of pressure in the throat and rapid growth of a known nodule. In these situations, medical evaluation should not be delayed.
The investigation begins with the clinical history, physical examination, laboratory tests and thyroid ultrasound. When the nodule presents suspicious characteristics or reaches certain size criteria, fine needle aspiration puncture (FNA) may be indicated, a simple procedure, carried out with the aid of ultrasound, which allows the cells of the nodule to be analyzed and the best approach to be defined.
It is important to highlight that the size of the nodule alone does not determine the risk of cancer. Small nodules may require investigation, while larger ones may only remain under follow-up, depending on the characteristics observed on ultrasound.
When thyroid cancer is diagnosed early, the chances of successful treatment are quite high. Most cases have an excellent prognosis, especially in the most common types of the disease, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis.
Therefore, the main warning for Green July is simple: watch your body. If you notice a lump on your neck that persists or have persistent symptoms, seek medical evaluation. Most of the time, it won't be cancer. But when it is necessary to investigate, finding out early makes all the difference.
Dr. Mariana Ramos is an endocrinologist at Fetal Care, in Cuiabá-MT.
Source: Nortão News
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