Medullary Thyroid Cancer

There are 4 common types of thyroid cancer, and each type responds best to 1 or a combination of thyroid cancer treatments.
Papillary Thyroid Cancer
The most common type of thyroid cancer, papillary cancer, accounts for 70% to 80% of all recorded thyroid cancer cases. It is 3 times more likely to affect females than males, and is usually diagnosed in people ages 30 to 50. Typically non-aggressive, this type rarely spreads beyond the neck area. Papillary thyroid cancer takes its name after the papillary cells that make up this malignant growth.
Depending on the stage, there are several ways to treat this type of cancer. Partial thyroidectomy or lobectomy is a viable option if the tumor is only present on one side of the thyroid; otherwise endocrinologists
The surgery is followed up with RAI to completely eliminate metastasized thyroid cancer cells that remain within the patient’s body. External beam radiation is also used to treat or prevent the growth of follicular and Hurthle cell cancers in the neck area.
Medullary Thyroid Cancer
The third most common thyroid cancer type, medullary thyroid cancer, makes up about 5% to 10% of thyroid cancer cases. The disease is believed to run in families and is associated with other endocrine issues. The abnormal cells that make up this cancer, C Cells, produce the calcitonin that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood. Unlike the first 2 types of thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer equally affects males and females, especially those between 40 to 50 years of age.
If discovered in its early stages, the disease can be addressed with total thyroidectomy and the removal of nearby lymph nodes. If discovered in its later stages, it can be treated with external beam radiation therapy. RAI has no effect on this type of cancer because the cells that make up medullary thyroid cancer do not use iodine.
Anaplastic