KGF Actor Harish Rai’s Death Raises Awareness About Thyroid Cancer; Symptoms and Causes Explained

Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai died at the age of 55 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Well known for his role as Khasim in the popular KGF franchise, Harish was battling thyroid cancer, which had

spread to his stomach. Thyroid cancer is a deadly disease in which malignant cells form in the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. Common types include papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic, with papillary being the most prevalent.

What is thyroid cancer?

Doctors say thyroid cancer develops in your thyroid, which produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. Thyroid hormones also control your body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Thyroid cancer is a type of endocrine cancer that is generally highly treatable, with an excellent cure rate. According to experts, treatment for most thyroid cancers can be very successful, depending on when it is diagnosed. Women are three times more likely to get thyroid cancer than men. The disease is commonly diagnosed in women in their 40s and 50s and men in their 60s and 70s. Even children can develop the disease. Doctors classify thyroid cancer based on the type of cells from which the cancer grows, which include papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic.

What causes thyroid cancer?

While doctors are not sure what causes thyroid cancer, there are a few factors, like radiation exposure, a diet low in iodine, and faulty genes, that can increase the risk. A few others include:

• An enlarged thyroid gland, which causes goiter
• Family history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer
• Thyroiditis, which causes inflammation of the thyroid gland
• Genetic mutations that cause endocrine diseases like multiple endocrine neoplasia
• Low iodine intake
• Obesity or high body mass index
• Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, especially in your childhood
• Exposure to radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons or a power plant accident

Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer

While you may feel a lump or growth in your neck, known as a thyroid nodule, doctors say it is most likely not a cause for worry, as most nodules are benign. Only about three out of 20 thyroid nodules turn out to be cancerous. Other thyroid cancer symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Loss of voice or a change in voice
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexpected weight loss

How can thyroid cancer be treated or managed?

Doctors say treatments for thyroid cancer depend on the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. A few treatments include:

• Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer. Depending on the tumour’s size and location, a surgeon may remove part of your thyroid gland
• Radioiodine therapy makes you swallow a pill or liquid containing a higher dose of radioactive iodine than what is used in a diagnostic radioiodine scan.
• Radiation therapy helps kill cancer cells and stops them from growing.
• Chemotherapy drugs help you get rid of cancer cells and stop cancer growth.
• Hormone therapy treatment blocks the release of hormones that can cause cancer to spread or come back.