Even Wladimir Putin really suffer from a thyroid cancer, as the independent Russian newspaper Proekt speculates, this is not yet a proven fact. So far we only know that endocrinologist Evgeny Selivanov from the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow has accompanied the Russian President on his trips at least 35 times in the last four years. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is quick to deny it. In reality, confirmation of the news would mean that President Putin has already had surgery and is therefore undergoing thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
In fact, the only cure for thyroid tumors is surgical, as explained by Rocco Bellantone, director of the Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery at Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, the Italian center with the largest number of thyroid cancer treatments: over two thousand thyroid glands are operated on here every year, over 500 of them malicious. «There are different types of thyroid cancer says Bellantone Fortunately, the tumor, even if it is malignant, in most cases has an excellent prognosis, that is, it heals in more than 90 percent of the cases. However, there are some types of tumors that, less often, are instead dramatic and prognostically unfavorable ».
According to AIOM (Italian Medical Oncology Association), thyroid cancer is the most common neoplasm of the endocrine system (90%), accounting for 3.8% of all neoplasms. In 2016, about 15,300 new cases were diagnosed in Italy, 4 percent of all malignant neoplasm cases, 3 quarters of them in women. “Usually explains Bellantone it manifests itself as swelling in the neck or, in a more advanced stage, with difficulties in speaking, breathing, swallowing.” However, it is usually asymptomatic, which is why a doctor is consulted in the case of an advanced stage of the tumor. “In reality, the diagnostic tests are quite trivial explains the Gemelli expert since it is a very superficial organ, located at the base of the neck, a visual inspection and then, above all, an ultrasound scan is enough to allow us to to diagnose tumors of a few millimeters”.
Once identified, there is no other way than surgical. In the initial cases, it is enough to remove half of the thyroid gland, but in more advanced cases, the entire organ. It’s hard to tell if you have thyroid cancer when it’s asymptomatic. However, there are known risk factors that should lead to regular checks. “Meanwhile according to Bellantone the greatest risk is when you are near radiation. In fact, with the Chernobyl crisis, there was a staggering increase in thyroid cancer across the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. For early diagnosis, we recommend screening for anyone who has had thyroid problems, or who has been to radioactive areas, or anyone whose family members have had the same problem. Today, at Gemelli, they are able to remove malignant tumors as small as three or four millimeters. «This is an operation that requires a hospital stay of two or three days assures Bellantone and if it is performed by experienced hands, it does not involve any postoperative problems. Typically, the risks are related to the proximity of the thyroid to the vocal cords. And therefore, in the postoperative period, there could be a significant lowering of the voice. On the positive side, no further invasive treatment is required after the operation.
“This is not a cancer that requires chemotherapy. Radiometabolic therapy is performed, ie radioactive iodine is taken to destroy any cells that are still present after the operation. We repeat that it can be cured in over 90 percent of cases. After the operation, you need to take one pill, but you need to find the right dosage, otherwise the patient runs the risk of swelling and weight gain ». However, there are thyroid cancers that do not escape. «So far explains Bellantone we have referred to the most common form of thyroid cancer. But then it comes to a dramatically bad shape, which quickly leads to an enlarged throat, voice and breathing disorders. It’s a rarer form, affecting no more than 2 percent of cases. It’s a type of tumor that requires chemotherapy, radiation therapy, but has a completely poor prognosis.
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