Chennai: There are approximately 4-5 lakh thyroid cancer patients in the state, which has been seeing an increase in the number of patients every year by at least 4 to 5 per cent. Oncologists say it is due to the increase in awareness and better diagnostic facilities, which are now available.
Due to the availability of advanced laboratory and imaging methodologies, doctors claim to be witnessing more thyroid cancer cases each year. Thyroid care experts say this is a welcome trend as more people are getting treatment but cautioned that there are still multiple challenges faced by patients and physicians as far as the overall management of thyroid cancer is concerned.
Dr Shelley Simon, head of the department of Nuclear Medicine, Apollo Hospital said, “Most of our patients have thyroid cancer, except a small percentage of hyperthyroid patients. Last year, we saw more than 400 patients. The increase in the number of patients every year may be probably due to the increase in awareness and better diagnostic facilities.” According to Dr Arvind Krishnamurthy, Professor, Surgical Oncology, Adyar Cancer Institute, “The institute operates on 150 thyroid patients per year. The trend has been increasing for the past 25 years.”
Despite positive developments, there continues to be multiple challenges with regards to thyroid cancer management. “While thyroid gland surgery is very common, there is a dearth of centres where comprehensive management of thyroid cancer is offered. There is a lack of well-trained cytopathologists,” said Dr Krishnamurthy.
