What does MTC mean in THERAPY

Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) is a type of thyroid cancer that develops in the middle layer of cells in the thyroid gland. This type of cancer has been found to be more aggressive than other types and can spread quickly if not treated early.

Some common symptoms associated with MTC include coughing, hoarseness, changes in voice, pain or numbness in the throat area, difficulty swallowing and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Diagnosis begins with a physical exam and review of medical history, followed by imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT scans to look for abnormal growths, Lab work including blood tests for hormones related to the thyroid gland, biopsy results from a sample taken from suspect areas within your body which will confirm whether it's malignant or benign tumor.

Treatments vary depending upon the stage at which you're diagnosed but generally fall into one or more categories such as surgery to remove tumors; external beam radiation therapy; chemotherapy focused on specific parts such as iodine-131; hormone therapy focusing on reducing hormone production by healthy cells; targeted drug therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors; radiation seeding; and immunotherapy drugs.

The most common long term side effects associated with treatment include fatigue, depression, weight gain/loss, difficulty sleeping and joint problems such as arthritis.