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A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. You may get simple kidney cysts as you age; they are usually harmless. There are also some diseases which cause kidney cysts. One type is polycystic kidney disease (PKD). It runs in families. In PKD, many cysts grow in the kidneys. This can enlarge the kidneys and make them work poorly. About half of people with the most common type of PKD end up with kidney failure. PKD also causes cysts in other parts of the body, such as the liver.

Often, there are no symptoms at first. Later, symptoms include:

• Pain in the back and lower sides
• Headaches
• Blood in the urine

Doctors diagnose PKD with imaging tests and family history. There is no cure. Treatments can help with symptoms and complications. They include medicines and lifestyle changes, and if there is kidney failure, dialysis or kidney transplants.

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) happens in people who have chronic kidney disease, especially if they are on dialysis. Unlike PKD, the kidneys are normal sized, and cysts do not form in other parts of the body. ACKD often has no symptoms. Usually, the cysts are harmless and do not need treatment. If they do cause complications, treatments include medicines, draining the cysts, or surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Thyroid cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the thyroid. Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control the way the body uses energy. These hormones affect nearly every organ in your body and control many of your body's most important functions. For example, they affect your breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion, and moods.

There are different types of thyroid cancer; the main ones include:

• Differentiated thyroid cancer, which includes papillary cancer and follicular cancer
• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Certain people are more likely to develop thyroid cancer. Your risk is higher if you:

• Are between ages 25 and 65
• Are a woman
• Are Asian
• Were exposed to certain types of radiation, including from radiation treatments to your head or neck as a child or from a radiation emergency
• Have had a goiter (enlarged thyroid)
• Having certain genetic conditions, including certain types of multiple endocrine neoplasia
• Have a family history of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease

Thyroid cancer may not cause symptoms at first. It is sometimes found during a routine physical exam. You may get signs or symptoms as the cancer gets bigger. The symptoms may include:

• A lump (nodule) in the neck
• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Pain when swallowing
• Hoarseness or other changes to your voice that do not get better

To find out if you have thyroid cancer, your health care provider may use:

• A physical exam, including checking your neck for swelling, lumps, or anything that seems unusual
• A medical history
• Thyroid tests
• Other blood or imaging tests
• A biopsy

Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type of cancer you have and whether the cancer has spread. Often, more than one type of treatment may be needed. The treatment options include:

• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy, including radioactive iodine therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• Thyroid hormone therapy.
• Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
• Watchful waiting, which means that you don't get treatment right away. Your regularly checks to see if your signs or symptoms appear or change.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. They are near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney there are about a million tiny structures called nephrons. They filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters. It goes to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.

Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Causes can include genetic problems, injuries, or medicines. You have a higher risk of kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a close family member with kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease damages the nephrons slowly over several years. Other kidney problems include:

• Cancer
• Cysts
• Stones
• Infections

Your doctor can do blood and urine tests to check if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases