Thyroid cancer rates in Mexican women, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): Thyroid cancer affects women in Mexico three to four times more than men. With more than 11,000 new cases estimated each year, the disease is one of the leading malignant tumors and a health problem that requires attention and timely diagnosis.
According to figures cited by the National Cancer Institute (INCan), among Mexican women aged 30 to 55, thyroid cancer ranks third among the most frequently diagnosed cancers, after breast and cervical cancer.
Although the incidence is higher among women, finding an abnormality in the thyroid does not necessarily mean developing cancer. Endocrinologist Sigfrido Miracle López explained that most thyroid nodules are benign and that their detection should be accompanied by a medical evaluation to determine whether they require monitoring, biopsy or treatment.
The thyroid is a gland located at the front of the neck. It produces hormones that play a role in metabolism, body temperature and the functioning of various organs.
The best-known disorders are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which affect the gland’s function. Nodules, by contrast, represent changes in its structure and can occur even when hormone levels are normal.
For this reason, blood tests that assess thyroid function are not sufficient to rule out possible cancer.
The specialist noted that some nodules produce no symptoms and may be identified during studies performed for other reasons. However, a persistent or growing lump in the neck, swollen cervical lymph nodes, persistent hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing or breathing are signs that require medical assessment.
The evaluation may include clinical examination, ultrasound and measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is determined according to the size and characteristics of the nodule, as well as each patient’s clinical context.
Factors associated with a higher risk of thyroid cancer include exposure to ionizing radiation in the head and neck, especially during childhood, certain family histories, and some hereditary syndromes. An association between obesity and higher incidence of this disease has also been observed.
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that can cause hypothyroidism, some studies have identified a relationship with thyroid cancer in patients evaluated for nodules. However, this does not demonstrate that the autoimmune disease is a direct cause of cancer.
Having Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism does not mean developing a neoplasm and does not, by itself, constitute an indication for biopsy.
The prognosis of thyroid cancer depends on the tumor type, its extent and each patient’s condition. Some differentiated carcinomas, particularly when localized, have a favorable prognosis.
Treatment may include surgery, radioactive iodine and hormone replacement with levothyroxine, depending on the characteristics and risk of each case.
Dr. Miracle López explained that some small, low-risk papillary carcinomas may be managed with active surveillance, without immediate surgery, provided they meet specific medical criteria and receive specialized follow-up.
Finally, the specialist warned that thyroid ultrasounds are not recommended indiscriminately in adults without symptoms or special risk factors, since they may detect abnormalities that would never pose a health problem and lead to unnecessary procedures. When symptoms, known nodules or risk history are present, medical evaluation determines the appropriate studies and follow-up.
