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Thyroid cancer is cancer that begins in the tissues of the thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones that control how the body uses energy. They affect nearly every organ and many of the body's most important functions, including breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion and mood.
Types
The main types of thyroid cancer are:
- differentiated thyroid cancer, which includes papillary and follicular cancer
- medullary thyroid cancer
- anaplastic thyroid cancer
Who is at higher risk
The risk of thyroid cancer is higher for people who:
- are between 25 and 65 years old
- are women
- are Asian
- were exposed to certain types of radiation, such as radiation treatment to the head or neck in childhood or radiation from an emergency
- have had a goiter (an enlarged thyroid)
- have certain genetic conditions, including some types of multiple endocrine neoplasia
- have a family history of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease
Symptoms
At first, thyroid cancer may cause no symptoms, and it is sometimes found during a routine physical exam. As the cancer grows, it may cause:
- a lump (nodule) in the neck
- trouble breathing
- trouble swallowing, or pain when swallowing
- hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
Diagnosis
A health care provider may use a physical exam, including checking the neck for swelling, lumps or anything unusual; a medical history; thyroid tests; other blood or imaging tests; and a biopsy.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer and whether it has spread, and more than one kind is often needed:
- surgery
- radiation therapy, including radioactive iodine therapy
- chemotherapy
- thyroid hormone therapy
- targeted therapy, drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells while doing less harm to normal cells
- watchful waiting: no immediate treatment, with regular checks by a provider to see whether signs or symptoms appear or change
Sources
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), "Thyroid Cancer," from the National Cancer Institute. https://medlineplus.gov/thyroidcancer.html
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