35-year-old Thuy Linh from An Giang has been living with thyroid cancer for a year without undergoing surgery, choosing instead to rely on traditional medicine. Recently, she has been experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, which has left her concerned about the possibility of metastatic disease.
The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism, blood pressure, and other bodily functions. If thyroid cancer is not treated properly or left untreated, cancer cells can invade nearby structures such as muscles, esophagus, trachea, larynx, and blood vessels in the neck. These cancer cells can also metastasize to lymph nodes and even distant areas like bones, brain, liver, and lungs. Metastatic thyroid cancer can be challenging to treat, with brain metastases being particularly difficult to manage.
Symptoms of metastatic thyroid cancer can vary depending on the affected areas. Bone metastases can lead to symptoms like bone pain, brittle bones, spinal cord compression, and bone loss. When the cancer spreads to the lungs, it may cause dry coughing