Thuy Linh, a 35-year-old from An Giang, had thyroid cancer for a year but opted for traditional medicine instead of undergoing surgery. Recently, she has been experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. She is concerned that these symptoms could be indicative of metastatic disease.
The thyroid gland plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, blood pressure, and various other bodily functions. When thyroid cancer is left untreated or not treated appropriately, cancer cells can invade nearby structures like 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 vary depending on the affected areas. Bone metastases can cause bone pain, brittle bones, spinal cord compression