Almost 600 Costa Ricans diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year

COSTA RICA – September 26th, 2012 – Monday was World Thyroid Cancer Day, and experts and patients want to warn about the importance of seeking medical attention when noticing a lump or mass in the neck area.

“One day, when looking in front of the mirror, I felt a discomfort in my neck, and after checking carefully, I noticed a lump, so I decided to see a doctor. I was then diagnosed with cancer, “ said Eudalia Meza, a patient from Santo Domingo, Heredia.

The illness is three times more likely in women. Particularly at risk are those between 50 and 60 years of age.

When found in time, thyroid cancer as an exceptionally high survival rate after proper treatment.

According to information from the Costa Rica Social Security (CCSS), just last year, 575 patients were diagnosed with the illness, 485 of which were women and 90 were men.