Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck. It plays a key role in many of your bodily functions, including metabolism, heart rate, body temperature and cell growth. To carry out these functions, your thyroid creates and produces hormones that play a role in many different systems throughout your body. When your thyroid makes either too much or too little of these hormones, it’s called thyroid disease.
Thyroid disease impacts about 20 million Americans, but as many as 60% don’t even know they have it. It’s important to get a diagnosis as early as possible to get started on treatment and feeling better earlier.
While thyroid disease can sometimes indicate thyroid cancer, thyroid cancer is more elusive in that most people experience no symptoms — especially in the early stages. Most thyroid diseases, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, cause noticeable and uncomfortable symptoms, yet are benign. We’re here to help you understand thyroid cancer, starting with awareness about its misconceptions, so you have the tools you need to stay well ahead of cancer and get help as soon as possible if you need it.
What Is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the thyroid. Thyroid cancer might not cause any symptoms at first. But as it grows, it can cause signs and symptoms, such as swelling in your neck, voice changes and difficulty swallowing.
Several types of thyroid cancer exist. Most types grow slowly, but some can be very aggressive. Most thyroid cancers can be cured with treatment.
Thyroid cancer rates seem to be increasing, possibly because of improved imaging technology that allows health care providers to find small thyroid cancers on CT and MRI scans done for other conditions. Thyroid cancers found in this way are usually small cancers that respond well to treatments.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Typically, the most common thyroid cancer symptom is a lump in the lower neck, just above where your collarbones meet. As thyroid cancer progresses beyond the early stages, symptoms that can occur include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing up blood
- Hoarseness
- New lumps on the sides of the neck
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
- Throat and neck pain
- Trouble swallowing
Thyroid cancers tend to have a good response to treatment and have a very high survival that is over 95%. However, in older patients or those with more advanced disease, this type of cancer can become quite aggressive, and survival rates may fall to around 50% to 60%.
Thyroid Cancer Misconceptions
Read on for three common myths about thyroid cancer followed by the facts. Next time you hear one, you’ll be equipped with the truth.
Myth #1: All Thyroid Cancers Are the Same
Truth: There are several types of thyroid cancer. And treatment vary for the different types. For example, treatment for papillary thyroid cancer is very different from treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer or medullary thyroid cancer.
Myth #2: Thyroid Cancer Is Easy to Treat
Truth: Even after finishing thyroid cancer treatment, many people need long-term care. Some will have to take a synthetic thyroid hormone for the rest of their lives. Regular appointments will also be needed to watch for signs of recurrence.
Myth #3: Thyroid Cancer Isn’t Treatable
Truth: Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated with great success. Many people enjoy long, fulfilling lives after thyroid cancer treatment.
Treatment Options for Thyroid Cancer
Your thyroid cancer treatment options depend on the type and stage of your thyroid cancer, your overall health and your preferences.
Most people diagnosed with thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis, as most thyroid cancers can be cured with treatment.
Treatment may not be needed immediately for very small thyroid cancers as these have a low risk of growing or spreading. Your health care provider might recommend blood tests and an ultrasound exam of your neck several times a year.
However, most people with thyroid cancer that requires treatment will have surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid. The type of surgery your doctor recommends depends on your type of thyroid cancer, the size of the cancer and whether it has spread beyond the thyroid to the lymph nodes. Your care team also includes you and your wishes when creating a treatment plan.
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