Overview
Thyroid cancer is more common in women. Most types, especially papillary and follicular cancer, grow slowly and have excellent outcomes with treatment.
Symptoms
- A painless lump in the front of the neck
- A lump that is growing
- Hoarseness or a change in voice
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Swollen lymph glands in the neck
- Often no symptoms, found on a scan
Causes and risk factors
Risk factors include radiation exposure to the head and neck in childhood, a family history of thyroid cancer and some inherited conditions such as MEN2.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis uses thyroid blood tests, a neck ultrasound and a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Further scans check for spread.
Treatment
Treatment includes surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid, radioactive iodine for some cancers and lifelong thyroid hormone tablets. Regular follow-up with blood tests and ultrasound is needed.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for any neck lump, especially if it is growing, or for hoarseness lasting more than three weeks.
This information is for general education and does not replace advice from a qualified doctor. For a medical emergency, call +92-51-8446666 or go to the nearest emergency department.
