“Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. It’s a part of your endocrine system and controls many of your body’s important functions by producing and releasing (secreting) certain hormones. Your thyroid’s main job is to control the speed of your metabolism (metabolic rate), which is the process of how your body transforms the food you consume into energy. All of the cells in your body need energy to function.

Your thyroid is an important endocrine gland that makes and releases certain hormones. Your thyroid’s main job is to control your metabolism — how your body uses energy. Sometimes, your thyroid doesn’t work properly. These conditions are common and treatable.

As an endocrine gland, your thyroid makes and secretes hormones.

Your thyroid produces and releases the following hormones:

• Thyroxine (T4): This is the primary hormone your thyroid makes and releases. Although your thyroid makes the most of this hormone, it doesn’t have much of an effect on your metabolism. Once your thyroid releases T4 into your bloodstream, it can convert to T3 through a process called deiodination.
• Triiodothyronine (T3): Your thyroid produces lesser amounts of T3 than T4, but it has a much greater effect on your metabolism than T4.
• Reverse triiodothyronine (RT3): Your thyroid makes very small amounts of RT3, which reverses the effects of T3.
• Calcitonin: This hormone helps regulate the amount of calcium in your blood.

Thyroid disease is an umbrella term for conditions that affect how your thyroid functions. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the two main types of thyroid disease. But they each have multiple possible causes. Thyroid diseases are treatable — usually with medication but sometimes surgery.”.

Cleveland Clinic (Thyroid: What It Is, Function & Problems)

There is an alarming number of people in America that have issues with their thyroid, in fact it’s a huge number, around 59 million people suffer from a thyroid problem. A thyroid handles your metabolism and is a gland located in the neck area. It can have huge negative affects on your health if it is not treated properly. Many people aren’t even aware that they have any symptoms that are connected with a thyroid; but before going into the problems lets first talk about what the thyroid is.

The Anatomy & Physiology of the Thyroid Gland:

The thyroid is a small gland, measuring about 2 inches (5 centimeters) across, that lies just under the skin below the Adam’s apple in the neck. The two halves (lobes) of the gland are connected in the middle (called the isthmus), giving the thyroid gland the butterfly shapes organ, sort of looking like a bow tie. Normally, the thyroid gland cannot be seen and can barely be felt. If it becomes enlarged, doctors can feel it easily, and a prominent bulge (goiter) may appear below or to the sides of the Adam’s apple.

How the Thyroid Gland Works:

• The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, which is made up of glands that produce, store, and release hormones into the bloodstream so the hormones can reach the body’s cells. The thyroid gland uses iodine from the foods you eat to make two main hormones:
• Triiodothyronine (T3)
• Thyroxine (T4)

T4, the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland, has only a slight effect, if any, on speeding up the body’s metabolic rate. When this occurs instead, T4 is converted into T3, the more active hormone. The conversion of T4 to T3 occurs in the liver and other tissues. Now yes T3 is made by the thyroid but if too much in the body it is converted to T4, more inactivating or decreasing your T3 levels to prevent metabolism too high in the body causing metabolic problems.  Many factors control the conversion of T4 to T3, including the body’s needs from moment to moment and the presence or absence of illnesses.

In a nut shell the thyroid gland is the gland that releases hormones that plays an impact on metaboloism = the way your body uses energy. The thyroid’s hormones regulate vital body functions.

Two Thyroid Hormones made and released by this organ that impact your metabolism=Triiodothyronine-also known as T3 and T4-also known as thyroxine.

It is important that T3 and T4 levels are neither too high nor too low but within normal range of therapeutic levels. Two glands in the brain—the hypothalamus and the pituitary communicate to maintain T3 and T4 balance.

The Hypothalamus:

A structure deep in your brain, acts as your body’s smart control coordinating center. Its main function is to keep your body in a stable state called homeostasis. It does its job by directly influencing your autonomic nervous system or by managing hormones. and one of the organs it affects is the THYROID.

The pituitary gland:

This organ sometimes called the “master” gland of the endocrine system because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is no larger than a pea, and is located at the base of the brain. The gland is attached to the hypothalamus by nerve fibers and blood vessels (a part of the brain that affects the pituitary gland). The pituitary gland itself consists of 2 major structures:

• Anterior lobe – this is where TSH is produced and released.
  
• Posterior lobe

This is how the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland work:

The Hypothalamus produces and releases Thyroid Releasing Hormone when T3 & T4 are low in the blood.             The Pituitary produces and releases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone TSH to  tell your thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make.

The hypothalamus senses low circulating levels of thyroid hormones (T3 & T4) and responds by releasing thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The TRH stimulates the pituitary telling it to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and causing the following effect in the body:

• When T3 and T4 levels are low in the blood, the pituitary gland releases more of TSH to tell the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones.
• If T3 and T4 levels are high, the pituitary gland releases less TSH to the thyroid gland to slow production of these hormones.  The inhibiting release of TRH and TSH through a negative feedback loop.

T3 and T4 travel in your bloodstream to reach almost every cell in the body. The hormones regulate the speed with which the cells/metabolism work. For example, T3 and T4 regulate your heart rate and how fast your intestines process food. So if T3 and T4 levels are low, your heart rate may be slower than normal, and you may have constipation/weight gain. If T3 and T4 levels are high, you may have a rapid heart rate and diarrhea/weight loss.

Did you know the third hormone produced by the thyroid gland is called calcitonin. Calcitonin is made by C-cells. It is involved in calcium and metabolism of the bone only.

“The two most important things you can do to prevent cervical cancer are to get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible, and to be tested regularly according to American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines. These can be found in The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer.

The most common form of cervical cancer starts with pre-cancerous changes and there are ways to stop this from developing. The first way is to find and treat pre-cancers before they become invasive cancers, and the second is to prevent the pre-cancers.”

American Cancer Society (Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented | Ways to Prevent Cervical Cancer | American Cancer Society)

There is steps you can take early in life and steps you can take through out your life to prevent cervical cancer:

1. Three HPV vaccines—9-valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9, 9vHPV), quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil, 4vHPV), and bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix, 2vHPV)—have been licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). All three HPV vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18 that cause most HPV cancers.

Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and can be used for both girls and boys. This vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if the vaccine is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer.

2. For cancer prevention as well as overall health and wellness through out your life, many experts recommend a plant-based diet that consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. These foods contain a variety of beneficial chemical compounds that can be easily incorporated into daily meals. Some examples include:

• Flavonoids – These chemical compounds, which are believed to provide protection against cancer, are found in apples, asparagus, black beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cranberries, garlic, lettuce, lima beans, onions, soy and spinach.
• Folate – This water-soluble B vitamin has been found to reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women who have HPV. Foods that are rich in folate include avocados, chickpeas, lentils, orange juice, romaine lettuce and strawberries.
• Carotenoids – These valuable sources of vitamin A are found in most fruits, vegetables and beans, and particularly in orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and squash.

While a healthy diet is an important component of an overall cancer prevention plan, it should not be the only component.

Treatment of cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. If your doctor says that you have cervical cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system.

Different treatments may be provided by different doctors on your medical team.

• Gynecologic oncologists are doctors who have been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system.
• Surgeons are doctors who perform operations.
• Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicine.
• Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.

You always go with MD specialist in treating any cancer starting with a oncologist who will work you up with further specialists if needed.

“Cervical cancer is classified into several stages:

The first stage of cervical cancer is carcinoma in situ (also known as precancer or severe dysplasia), in which a group of abnormal cells has started to grow but has not yet spread to nearby tissues. Because stage 0 “precancers” are likely to eventually spread deeper into the tissue and become cancerous, they should be treated.

Early Cervical Cancer (Stages I–IIA)

Although more extensive than stage 0, these cancers are still limited to the cervix.

Advanced Cervical Cancer (Stages IIB–IVA)

Cervical cancer that has spread beyond the cervix and invaded the surrounding pelvic tissues in the vagina, rectum, or bladder is known as locally advanced cervical cancer.

Stage IVB and Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis (into the lungs or liver, for example), or has returned following initial therapy, is placed in this category.”

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Cervical Cancer Diagnosis & Stages 0, 1, 2 ,3, 4 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

1-Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.

Know this about screening:

Scientists are trying to better understand which people are more likely to get certain types of cancer.

Cervical dysplasia occurs more often in women who are in their 20s and 30s. Death from cervical cancer is rare in women younger than 30 years and in women of any age who have regular screenings with the Pap test. The Pap test is used to detect cancer and changes that may lead to cancer. The chance of death from cervical cancer increases with age. In recent years, deaths from cervical cancer have been slightly higher in Black women younger than 50 years than in White women younger than 50 years. Deaths from cervical cancer are almost twice as likely in Black women older than 60 years than in White women older than 60 years.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.

2.If cervical cancer is suspected, your doctor is likely to start with a thorough examination of your cervix. A special magnifying instrument (colposcope) is used to check for abnormal cells.

During the colposcopic examination, your doctor is likely to take a sample of cervical cells (biopsy) for laboratory testing. To obtain tissue, your doctor may use:

• Punch biopsy, which involves using a sharp tool to pinch off small samples of cervical tissue.
• Endocervical curettage, which uses a small, spoon-shaped instrument (curet) or a thin brush to scrape a tissue sample from the cervix

If the punch biopsy or endocervical curettage is worrisome, your doctor may perform one of the following tests:

• Electrical wire loop, which uses a thin, low-voltage electrified wire to obtain a small tissue sample. Generally this is done under local anesthesia in the office.
• Cone biopsy (conization), which is a procedure that allows your doctor to obtain deeper layers of cervical cells for laboratory testing. A cone biopsy may be done in a hospital under general anesthesia.

Staging the cervical cancer:

Cervical Cancer. Carcinoma of Cervix. Malignant neoplasm arising from cells in the cervix uteri. Vaginal bleeding. Vector diagram

If your doctor determines that you have cervical cancer, you’ll have further tests to determine the extent (stage) of your cancer. Your cancer’s stage is a key factor in deciding on your treatment.

Staging exams include:

• Imaging tests. Tests such as X-ray, CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) help your doctor determine whether your cancer has spread beyond your cervix.
• Visual examination of your bladder and rectum. Your doctor may use special scopes to see inside your bladder and rectum.

Cervical Cancer. Carcinoma of Cervix. Malignant neoplasm arising from cells in the cervix uteri. Vaginal bleeding. Vector diagram

Cervical cancer risk factors

GENERAL

• Pregnancy: Women who have had three or more full-term pregnancies, or who had their first full-term pregnancy before age 17, are twice as likely to get cervical cancer.

GENETICS

• Family history: Women with a sister or mother who had cervical cancer are two to three times more likely to develop cervical cancer.

LIFESTYLE

• Sexual history: Certain types of sexual behavior are considered risk factors for cervical cancer and HPV infection. These include: sex before age 18, sex with multiple partners and sex with someone who has had multiple partners. Studies also show a link between chlamydia infection and cervical cancer.
• Smoking: A woman who smokes doubles her risk of cervical cancer.
• Oral contraceptive use: Women who take oral contraceptives for more than five years have an increased risk of cervical cancer, but this risk returns to normal within a few years after the pills are stopped.

OTHER CONDITIONS

• Weakened immune system: In most people with healthy immune systems, the HPV virus clears itself from the body within 12-18 months. However, people with HIV or other health conditions or who take medications that limit the body’s ability to fight off infection have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES): Women whose mothers took DES, a drug given to some women to prevent miscarriage between 1940 and 1971, have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• HPV: Though HPV causes cancer, having HPV does not mean you will get cancer. The majority of women who contract HPV clear the virus or have treatment so the abnormal cells are removed. HPV is a skin infection, spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus.

Additional facts about HPV:

• There are more than 100 types of HPV, 30-40 of which are sexually transmitted.
• Of these, at least 15 are high-risk HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer. The others cause no symptoms or genital warts.
• Up to 80 percent of women will contract HPV in their lifetime. Men get HPV, too, but there is no test for them.
• A healthy immune system will usually clear the HPV virus before there is a symptom, including the high-risk types of HPV.
• Only a small percentage of women with high-risk HPV develop cervical cancer.

Understanding risk factors:

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer. Not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. If you think you may be at risk, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Regarding symptoms of cervical cancer:

In most cases, cervical cancer does not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Routine Pap screening is important to check for abnormal cells in the cervix, so they can be monitored and treated as early as possible. Most women are advised to get a Pap test starting at age 21.

The Pap test is one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening methods available, and women should have yearly exams by an OB-GYN. However, the Pap test may not detect some cases of abnormal cells in the cervix. The HPV test screens women for the high-risk HPV strains that may lead to cervical cancer. It is approved for women over age 30.

Although screening methods are not 100 percent accurate, these tests are often an effective method for detecting cervical cancer in the early stages when it is still highly treatable. Talk with your doctor about which type of cervical cancer screening is right for you.

When present, common symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

• Vaginal bleeding: This includes bleeding between periods, after sexual intercourse or post-menopausal bleeding.
• Unusual vaginal discharge: A watery, pink or foul-smelling discharge is common.
• Pelvic pain: Pain during intercourse or at other times may be a sign of abnormal changes to the cervix, or less serious conditions.

All of these cervical cancer symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.

Signs of advanced stages of cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer may spread (metastasize) within the pelvis, to the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. Signs of advanced cervical cancer include:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Leg pain or swelling
• Leakage of urine or feces from the vagina
• Bone fractures

“Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

Various strains of the human papillomavirus, also called HPV, play a role in causing most cervical cancers. HPV is a common infection that’s passed through sexual contact. When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus survives for years. This contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.

You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by having screening tests and receiving a vaccine that protects against HPV infection.”

MAYO CLINIC (Cervical cancer – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic)