© 2021 American yroid Association. All rights reserved.
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ABOUT ANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER (ATC)
• e thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in
the lower front of your neck.
• e thyroid gland is responsible for sending out thyroid
hormones to the rest of your body.
• yroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and
keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working
normally.
• yroid cancer is a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland.
• yroid cancer is a common type of cancer, but anaplastic
thyroid cancer, or ATC, is rare and only makes up 1% or less
of all thyroid cancers. ATC affects one to two people per one
million per year in the US.
• ere are four types of thyroid cancers, of which ATC is the
least common. ATC grows and spreads more rapidly than any
other type.
• ATC is also known as undifferentiated thyroid cancer because
the cells do not in any way resemble normal thyroid cells.
In contrast, the cells in other thyroid cancers are abnormal
but retain some healthy thyroid cell features (they are called
differentiated thyroid cells).
• ere are no known causes for ATC, however it usually occurs
in individuals aged 60 or older.
• About half of all patients with ATC have had or currently have
another type of thyroid cancer.
• While overall survival statistics are discouraging – with an
average survival rate of 6 months and approximately 1 in 5
alive aer 12 months – it is important to note that there are
long-term survivors and new effective treatment options.