What is the survival rate for medullary thyroid cancer?
The 5- and 10-year survival for medullary carcinomas is 65–89% and 71–87%, respectively (5). Average survival for MTC is lower than that for more common thyroid cancers, e.g., 83% 5-year survival for MTC compared to 90–94% 5-year survival for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer (6).
Is medullary thyroid cancer fast growing?
Medullary thyroid cancer can grow slowly for years and has time for the medullary thyroid cancer to spread into the lymph nodes which are doing their job of capturing the cancerous cells before they can spread further.
What are symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer?
While not everyone will have the same symptoms, here are some of the most common signs of medullary thyroid cancer:
- Neck lump. A single lump on the front of the neck is the most common symptom.
- Neck pain.
- Hoarseness.
- Coughing.
- Trouble swallowing (dysphagia).
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
What is the treatment for medullary thyroid cancer?
How is medullary thyroid cancer treated? MTC is usually treated by removing the thyroid. This surgery is called a thyroidectomy. In certain people with a high risk for MTC, such as people carrying certain gene changes, a thyroidectomy may be performed to prevent cancer.
Is medullary cancer curable?
Yes, medullary thyroid cancer is curable, especially when detected early. Following complete removal of medullary thyroid cancer, only 4% of patients will have a regrowth of the medullary thyroid cancer at 5-7 years after surgery.
Where does medullary thyroid cancer metastasis to?
The typical sites of metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer are the regional lymph nodes, which are frequently involved at the time of diagnosis. Upper and anterior mediastinal lymph nodes are also in the pathway of tumour spread. Sites of distant metastases are typically lung, liver and bone.