The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that produces hormones which regulate heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, and body temperature. It is made up primarily of follicular cells and C cells. The thyroid gland has a left and right lobe joined by the isthmus.
There are different types of thyroid cancers. They may either be differentiated, medullary, or anaplastic. The most common type of thyroid cancer is papillary carcinoma, which is a form of differentiated cancer that accounts for 80% of all diagnosed cases. Anaplastic thyroid cancer on the other hand, is the rarest form, making up 2% of all diagnosed cases. But it is also notoriously fast at spreading and more difficult to treat.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 44,000 cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in 2024, resulting in about 2,000 deaths. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer. But it is highly treatable, and the outlook for survival is quite positive.
Thyroid cancer can cause the following symptoms:
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have cancer and may often be caused by benign conditions like goiter or thyroid nodules. However, certain non-cancer conditions like FAP syndrome and Cowden’s disease may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. It’s important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms for prolonged periods.
Thyroid cancer can be diagnosed with imaging tests and biopsies. When cancer is found, it is treated primarily with surgery. But if surgery is not viable due to poor health or other factors, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy are also available.
The American Cancer Society uses the SEER database to estimate the 5-year relative survival rates for thyroid cancer. They are categorized according to localized, regional, or distant stages. At the localized stage, the cancer is still confined to the thyroid gland and has the highest survival rate. The regional stage is when the cancer has spread to nearby structures and lymph nodes. And the distant stage is when cancer has spread from the thyroid to other organs.
| Papillary | Follicular | Medullary | Anaplastic | |
| Localized | 99.5% | 99.5% | 99.5% | 39% |
| Regional | 99% | 98% | 92% | 11% |
| Distant | 74% | 67% | 43% | 4% |
Thyroid cancer relative 5-year survival rates, ACS
Seek a medical malpractice attorney for legal advice if you’ve been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Early detection is crucial to ensure that thyroid cancer can be treated with minimal damage and side effects. While highly survivable, thyroid cancer treatments usually involve a procedure called lobectomy, which involves cutting off the infected lobe. In the advanced stages, a thyroidectomy that completely removes the thyroid gland may be necessary. These procedures require a patient to take supplementary thyroid hormones permanently to maintain proper body functions.
If you or a loved one have been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late with thyroid cancer in the State of New York, call the Porter Law Group. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers and board-certified medical experts can evaluate your case for free. We have a proven track record of recovering compensation for patients whose cancer was misdiagnosed or diagnosed late due to medical negligence in New York.
Patients may be eligible to sue medical staff if their thyroid cancer is diagnosed late. However, it is not enough to show that you’ve been injured to claim financial compensation for medical negligence. The process is complex, especially in New York. You have to deal with the numerous documentary and filing requirements and be aware of the statute of limitations within which to bring your claim.
To successfully bring forward a medical malpractice lawsuit, you need to establish that there was a doctor-patient relationship, that there was a deviation from the expected standard of care for patients with similar conditions. And that this deviation was the proximate cause of your injury. You also need a medical expert who can review your medical history and test results, and testify for you.
The Porter Law Group works with experts in various medical fields, and we hire specialists to look into your case to see if your thyroid cancer should have been caught sooner. Our experienced trial lawyers have recovered millions of dollars* for patients whose cancer was misdiagnosed, or diagnosed late due to their doctor’s medical negligence in the State of New York.
Contact us at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who also suffered from cancer. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.
Settlement – Prostate Cancer
44-year-old man diagnosed with incurable Stage IV prostate cancer due to physician's failure to order appropriate screening tests.
Confidential Settlement Reached Prior to Trial
Confidential Settlement Reached Prior to Trial
Confidential Settlement Reached Prior to Trial
