Thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck. Many thyroid cancers grow slowly and can be successfully treated, especially when detected early.
Common Types
Papillary thyroid cancer – the most common type and generally slow-growing.
Follicular thyroid cancer – can spread to distant organs in some cases.
Medullary thyroid cancer – develops from thyroid C cells and may sometimes run in families.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer – rare but aggressive and requires urgent specialist treatment.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer – rare but aggressive and requires urgent specialist treatment.
Symptoms
Thyroid cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages. Possible signs include:
A lump or swelling in the neck
Enlarged lymph nodes
Persistent hoarseness or voice changes
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Persistent neck discomfort or pain
Diagnosis
Evaluation may include a clinical examination, thyroid ultrasound, blood tests, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and other imaging tests when required.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type, size, stage, and spread of the cancer. Options may include:
Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid
Radioactive iodine therapy
Thyroid hormone therapy
Targeted therapy
Radiation therapy or other systemic treatments in selected cases
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