Filenews 2 September 2022
September is dedicated to thyroid cancer and PASYKAF is conducting a relevant information campaign with the message 'Detect it early' aiming at raising public awareness to seek screening for prevention and early detection purposes. The campaign is part of PASYKAF's thyroid cancer screening program and is carried out in collaboration with the Cyprus Endocrinological Society and the support of OPAP CYPRUS.
Throughout the thyroid cancer awareness month, PASYKAF encourages all citizens to request neck screening when visiting their doctor. Neck control can be done quickly. At the same time, PASYKAF invites people with experience of thyroid cancer who would like to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of patients with thyroid cancer and the safeguarding of their rights, to join the Group of people with experience of thyroid cancer created by the Association. For registration and further information the public can visit the PASYKAF page https://pasykaf.org/el-thyroid-cancer/
Thyroid cancer is usually treatable if detected early. Some types and variations of it are however aggressive and difficult to curse. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, can contract the disease, so they need lifelong daily medication and periodic examinations after treatment.
In Cyprus, according to the Cancer Archive, in 2019 there were 230 new cases of thyroid cancer in women and 78 in men, reaching a total of 308 cases. Thyroid cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women and the 6th in frequency in men. In addition, this cancer is more common in women and can occur even at an early age. The data recorded by the Cancer Archive show that the ages mostly affected are between 35 and 59 years old.
Symptoms of developing thyroid cancer include the presence of a lump or swollen glands in the throat and pain in the area, difficulty breathing or swallowing or changing the voice. These are signs of a possible thyroid nodule. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but some of them are cancers. In most cases this cancer is asymptomatic and the cases are diagnosed randomly, however it is important that people who may notice some of these symptoms immediately turn to endocrinologists for medical evaluation.
Additional aggravating factors are considered to be gender, age, heredity and family history, exposure to radiation (mainly on the head and neck in childhood), obesity, history with diabetes and lack of iodine in the diet.
