鈥淭he thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that help the body regulate its metabolism,鈥� says Marita Teng, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 鈥淎lthough the vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign, some can be cancerous and require examination and follow-up.鈥�
鈥淔ortunately, Thyroid cancer is easily identified,鈥� says Mike Yao, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 鈥淵early screening and regular check-ups are an important part of early diagnosis for these cancers.鈥�
According to Dr. Teng, examining your neck can in some cases help you find growths that may point to thyroid conditions, including thyroid cancer.
Drs. Teng and Yao are available for interview
FREE Thyroid Cancer Screening at The Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday, September 10 from 11AM to 2PM, at 1468 Madison Avenue (at 100th St.), Guggenheim Pavilion-Atrium
How to Perform a Thyroid Neck Self-Exam:鈥� Use a mirror and focus on the lower middle area of your neck, above the collarbones, and below the Adam鈥檚 apple (larynx). Your thyroid gland is located in this area of your neck.鈥� While focusing on this area in the mirror, tip your head back.鈥� Take a drink of water and swallow.鈥� As you swallow, look at your neck. Check for any bulges or protrusions in this area when you swallow. Don鈥檛 confuse the Adam鈥檚 apple with the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located further down on your neck, closer to the collarbone. You may want to repeat this process several times.鈥� If you do see any bulges or protrusions in this area, see your physician. You may have an enlarged thyroid gland or a thyroid nodule and should be checked to determine whether cancer is present or if treatment for thyroid disease is needed.
Symptoms & Facts About Thyroid Cancer 鈥� There are four types of thyroid cancer: papillary cancer, follicular cancer, medullary cancer, and anaplastic cancer. Papillary cancer is the most common form.鈥� Thyroid cancers occur three times more often in women than in men.鈥� Thyroid cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women, and is the fastest growing number of new cases among all cancers in both men and women due to increased detection.鈥� Symptoms of thyroid cancer are: lump in the neck; hoarse voice; enlarged lymph nodes; trouble swallowing or breathing; and constant cough not due to a cold. 鈥� Many thyroid cancers are curable if treated appropriately.
About the Mount Sinai Health System鈥═he Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services鈥攆rom community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.
The System includes approximately 6,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 minority-owned free-standing ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. Seven departments at The Mount Sinai Hospital and one at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE) ranked nationally in the top 25 in the 2015-2016 鈥淏est Hospitals鈥� issue of U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report. Mount Sinai鈥檚 Kravis Children鈥檚 Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report.
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