- Kristi Powers
Choose the health content that’s right for you, and get it delivered right in your inbox.
One patient described a busy life - going through a divorce, moving into a new house, starting a new job, and raising a teenager. Sound familiar?
Despite her chaotic situation, she booked and kept her routine doctor’s visit, a testament to how important these exams can be, and it saved her life. At 48 she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 44,020 new cases of thyroid cancer are expected in the United States in 2024. There are various types of thyroid cancer, and the difference is based upon which cell within the thyroid gland becomes cancerous.
Dr. Russell Smith, is an otolaryngology surgeon and the director of thyroid and parathyroid surgery at the AdventHealth Cancer Institute, explains to The Healthy, a Reader’s Digest publication, “The most common thyroid cancers develop from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. These cancers are called ‘well-differentiated thyroid cancers.’”
Smith adds most people do not have an identifiable risk factor for developing thyroid cancer – like genetics. He says exposure to ionizing radiation is one known risk.
To make this type of cancer even more difficult to diagnose, there aren’t many symptoms. Typically, the most common thyroid cancer symptom is a lump in the lower neck, just above where your collarbones meet, which is where the small, butterfly-shaped gland sits.

“As thyroid cancer progresses, other symptoms can occur,” Smith explains. Symptoms may include:
- New lumps on the sides of the neck
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Age may be a factor in how long someone can live with thyroid cancer, said Smith.
“These cancers (well-differentiated thyroid cancers) have a great response to treatment and have a very high survival that is over 95%,” Smith told The Healthy. 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%.
The AdventHealth Head and Neck program in Orlando is recognized by U.S News & World Report as the only nationally ranked for Ear, Nose and Throat care in Greater Orlando.
Recent News
Recognized among America’s best in Money’s first national orthopedic surgery rankings
For years, Laura O’Brien lived with persistent pain in her hip. It made daily tasks like walking, standing, and sleeping difficult. Relief finally came from an unexpected source: a handheld device the...
Thousands of residents across Central Florida contributed their voices to identify the region’s most pressing health challenges.
A registered dietitian with AdventHealth Diabetes Institute debunks the myths about eating healthy — and how to do it without overspending
When it comes to living longer and maintaining independence, your legs may be more important than you think. According to Dr. Chad Maurer, a primary care physician at AdventHealth Medical Group...
AdventHealth Palm Coast has earned new national recognition for its care of older adults. Just six months after earning its initial Level 1 designation, the hospital has advanced to a Level 2 Age...
More than 100 local leaders, clinicians and community partners gathered recently for AdventHealth Daytona Beach’s first State of the Hospital address for a look at how the hospital is evolving to meet...
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines.
Urinary leakage is a challenge many athletes face—often during or after exercise—due to the stress placed on the pelvic floor through strenuous or repetitive movements. Lisa Zwiers, PA-C, with...
Acetaminophen, commonly known by the brand name Tylenol, has been a staple in medicine cabinets since its clinical introduction in 1955.
This heartwarming reunion and the success of this case underscore the impact of early symptom recognition, coordinated EMS response, and hospital readiness.
AdventHealth is celebrating the winners of the latest AdventHealth Pinnacle Physician Award, Charles Morlok, MD, and the inaugural AdventHealth Pinnacle APP Award, Sarah Ducker, MSN, FNP-C, AOCNP...