Testing and Prevention: Important Blood Test Markers for Thyroid Cancer
What if you were asked to pick the most important organ in your body? You might say the brain or the heart. One leads all the others. The other provides oxygen to keep them going.
The thyroid, a small organ around the throat, is more important than most patients know. Its primary job is to regulate your metabolism.
Having thyroid issues can leave you feeling lousy. They may also be a sign of a lesser-known form of cancer.
Read on to learn about the most important blood test markers for thyroid cancer.
Early Thyroid Issue Indicators
Over half of Americans with thyroid disease don’t know they have it. That’s why it’s so important to look out for any early thyroid issue indicators. They include:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Dry hair and skin
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Sensitivity to changes in temperature
- Aches and pains
- Mood changes
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Difficulty focusing or brain fog
- High cholesterol
The sooner you spot these issues, the easier they’ll be to treat. You also need to determine if your symptoms are coming from another, more dangerous source.
Early Thyroid Cancer Signs
Spotting thyroid cancer is even more essential. It can prevent the nodules from growing or spreading to other parts of the body.
The problem is that the thyroid is so small and hidden away. It’s not as easy to spot any nodules or tumors.
The best form of prevention is to pay attention to how it makes you feel. Many of the early signs of thyroid cancer are the same as thyroid disease. Cancer can also come with unique early signs to watch out for. They include:
- Lump or swelling of the neck
- Pain in the front of the neck
- Trouble swallowing or breathing
- Changes to the voice such as hoarseness or raspiness
- Constant coughing
Blood Test Markers for Thyroid Cancer
A thyroid panel or thyroid function test looks at everything your thyroid produces. It’s like a complete blood count for your thyroid. The goal is to see if the levels of its hormones and proteins are normal.
A full blood count to look at the entire body may even be in order. It can help identify even more blood test markers for thyroid cancer. They provide additional information to let the doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
Non-Cancer-Specific Markers
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. It’s a crucial indicator of overall thyroid function. It’s not enough to indicate cancer alone. It often shows up at normal levels, but there can be a connection. TSH inhibitors are used to treat already identified thyroid cancer.
T3 and T4 work to regulate thyroid function. If levels are too low, you may have hypothyroidism because there aren’t enough of these hormones being produced. If they’re too high, you may have hyperthyroidism because the thyroid is overproducing.
These conditions aren’t the only reasons T3 and T4 levels are important to check. They can hint that a tumor or nodule is keeping the thyroid from working correctly.
Cancer-Specific Markers
There are also specific blood test markers for thyroid cancer. They go beyond indicating something is wrong or hinting at thyroid disease. They show that there may be a tumor or nodule already present.
Thyroglobulin is a protein. It can be used to help manage recurring or persistent cancers. It may even show up after aggressive treatments such as radioiodine ablation or a total thyroidectomy. It’s also important to check thyroglobulin antibodies. It helps give a more accurate result.
Elevated calcitonin levels indicate MTC or medullary thyroid cancer, which accounts for 4% of cases. Fine needle aspiration is also often included in a diagnosis.
CEA is also known as carcinoembrionic antigen. High levels indicate the presence of cancer. It’s also used to monitor the development of certain types of thyroid cancer, including MTC.
Emerging Biomarkers
Recent research has identified certain biomarkers as new, helpful identifiers. They’re not always enough to make a diagnosis on their own, but they can be combined with other indicators or signs of thyroid issues.
A few of the most promising are microRNA markers such as miRNA-95 and miRNA-190. They have a strong correlation with accurate thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Midkine is a pleiotropic growth factor. It’s used to identify PTC or papillary thyroid cancer, which accounts for approximately 84% of all thyroid cancer cases. It’s showing strong results in helping distinguish between benign and malignant tumors.
Studies showed levels of VAP-1, also known as vascular adhesion protein-1, were significantly lower in thyroid cancer patients. Current research continues to indicate that it has the potential to be included among blood test markers for thyroid cancer.
Further Thyroid Cancer Prevention
Testing is one of the best ways to prevent thyroid cancer, but it’s only the start. Getting screened too frequently can do more harm than good. It’s better to take smaller, simpler steps at home to lower your risk.
Continually monitor your thyroid health. Feel your throat and voicebox to check for any lumps or nodules. Keep an eye out for any thyroid disease warning signs.
Go to the doctor as soon as you notice any major changes. They can examine you and check for any physical signs such as swelling in your throat.
Regular screening isn’t necessary for everyone, but high-risk individuals should keep up with it. This includes anyone with:
- Regular exposure to radiation around the head or neck
- Family histories of thyroid cancer
- Genetic conditions associated with thyroid cancer
Where to Get Blood Tests for Thyroid Cancer
Looking for signs of thyroid disease or cancer is an important start. You also need to check blood test markers for thyroid cancer. They all work together to help deliver an accurate diagnosis. That ensures you can get treatment before the condition becomes severe.
Precision Labs offers convenient and accurate lab services on your schedule. We’ll complete blood tests at your office or facility. We’ll even come to your home.
Our goal is to give you the care you need when you need it. Reach out to us for the cancer screening blood tests you need today.