I went home thinking now is the time to learn more about the thyroid and the different types of cancer.
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in your neck, underneath the Adam's apple or larynx. At its normal size, it is less than an ounce, about 10-20 grams in an adult. It is made up of two halves, called lobes, that lie along the trachea (your windpipe) and are joined by a narrow band of thyroid tissue, known as the isthmus.
What does the thyroid do?
The thyroid takes iodine and converts it into two hormones: triiodothyronine and thyroxine, often referred to as T3 and T4. (The “3” and the “4” are related directly to the amount of iodine molecules which are used to create these hormones.). It also produces something called Calcitonin.
The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones. Thyroid cells are the only cells which absorb iodine. The thyroid cells combine iodine and the amino acid called tyrosine to make T3 and T4. The T3 and T4 are then released into the blood stream throughout the body where they control metabolism---the speed at which your cellular functions work.
If your thyroid gland does not make enough of these hormones, you will be hypo-thyroid, gain weight and lack energy. If your thyroid gland makes too much of the T3 and T4 hormones, you will be hyper-thyroid, will lose weight and have an increase in your appetite, and may feel agitated.
Calcitonin works with another hormone called parathyroid hormone. This is made by glands called the parathyroid glands, which are behind the thyroid gland and are attached to it. If you have your thyroid gland removed, the surgeon will try to leave the parathyroid glands intact. Your parathyroid glands can be affected by the operation and take a while to get back to normal. So, your doctor may ask you to take supplemental calcium for awhile, after your surgery.
