Thyroid cancer is one of the most common cancers that tends to develop with age. In particular, thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out tests such as thyroid cancer blood tests. Based on the thyroid cancer blood test results, you can assess the health of your thyroid and promptly treat any abnormalities in the thyroid.
What is thyroid cancer?
The thyroid gland is where hormones are produced that regulate the body’s metabolism. In addition, the thyroid gland also helps control body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid gland, this is a type of endocrine cancer and is treatable.
The cause of thyroid cancer can be due to exposure to radiation, low iodine intake or high-risk genes. In addition, the causes of thyroid cancer can be: Goiter, thyroiditis, obesity, …
Thyroid cancer can be easily recognized through some symptoms such as: Difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, loss of voice or swollen lymph nodes in your neck. However, these symptoms can be easily confused with some other diseases of the thyroid or throat.
To be sure, you should perform paraclinical tests for thyroid cancer such as blood tests. Based on the thyroid cancer blood test indexes, doctors can check hormone levels and measure whether your thyroid is functioning normally or not.
Thyroid cancer is not a rare disease.
When should you get a thyroid cancer blood test?
Thyroid cancer blood test indicators play an important role in diagnosing and detecting the risks of thyroid cancer. So when should you get a thyroid cancer blood test?
Normally, thyroid cancer blood tests are often requested by doctors when there are health concerns related to the thyroid. However, you can get a thyroid cancer blood test as a health care measure to detect and manage thyroid-related health problems early.
Here are some cases where you should consider getting this test:
- People with diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Your doctor will ask you to get a test to check for your risk of thyroid cancer.
- If your family has a history of thyroid or cancer, regular blood tests are important to detect any symptoms early.
- Pregnant women are often encouraged to have thyroid blood tests to ensure normal fetal development and to avoid thyroid-related problems.
- Older adults are at higher risk for thyroid problems. Regular blood tests can help detect and manage these problems early.
When to get a blood test for thyroid cancer is a question of many people.
Thyroid Cancer Blood Test Indicators You Need to Know
Thyroid cancer blood test indicators are factors to evaluate thyroid function and detect thyroid-related problems early. Here are some important thyroid cancer blood test indicators that you need to know:
Thyroid hormone levels
The thyroid gland produces a series of important hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which play an important role in maintaining basic body functions, increasing energy, and regulating growth.
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
This blood test measures the level of TSH, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland near the brain. If the body needs thyroid hormone, the pituitary gland secretes TSH to stimulate production.
Tg and TgAb
Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a protein produced naturally by the thyroid gland as well as by differentiated thyroid cancer. Normally, Tg levels in the blood are very low, however, if Tg levels are elevated, it can be a sign of cancer. Additionally, thyroglobulin (TgAb) are proteins produced by the body to attack thyroglobulin that occur in some patients. If TgAb is found, it is known to affect the results of the Tg level test.
Medullary Thyroid Cancer
If you are at risk for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), your doctor will order a tumor marker test to check for high levels of calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Your doctor will also recommend a blood test to look for the presence of the RET proto-oncogene, especially if there is a family history of MTC.
Thyroid cancer blood test indicators you need to know
Thyroid cancer blood tests are an important way to detect the disease early and monitor the health of your thyroid. Thyroid cancer blood tests can provide important information about thyroid function and detect potential problems. By understanding these tests and having regular testing, you can increase your chances of early detection of thyroid cancer and other thyroid-related problems.
