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Thyroid Cancer
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Endocrine System

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer originates in the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that regulates energy and metabolism, with treatment paths tailored to the specific type and stage of the disease.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer starts in the tissues of the thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. This gland produces hormones that control how the body uses energy, affecting nearly every organ and regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion, and moods.

Types of Thyroid Cancer

There are several different types of thyroid cancer, including:

  • Differentiated thyroid cancer (includes papillary cancer and follicular cancer)
  • Medullary thyroid cancer
  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Risk Factors

Certain factors may increase your likelihood of developing thyroid cancer, including:

  • Being between the ages of 25 and 65
  • Being a woman
  • Being Asian
  • Previous exposure to certain types of radiation, such as childhood radiation treatments to the head or neck, or exposure during a radiation emergency
  • Having a goiter (enlarged thyroid)
  • Having certain genetic conditions, such as specific types of multiple endocrine neoplasia
  • Having a family history of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease

Symptoms

Thyroid cancer may not cause symptoms initially and is sometimes discovered during a routine physical exam. As the cancer progresses, symptoms may include:

  • A lump (nodule) in the neck
  • Trouble breathing
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not improve

Diagnosis

To diagnose thyroid cancer, health care providers may utilize:

  • A physical exam to check for neck swelling or lumps
  • A medical history
  • Thyroid tests
  • Blood or imaging tests
  • A biopsy

Treatment & Management

Treatment depends on the specific type of cancer and whether it has spread. Options often include:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy, including radioactive iodine therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Thyroid hormone therapy
  • Targeted therapy, which uses substances to attack specific cancer cells while minimizing harm to normal cells
  • Watchful waiting, which involves regular monitoring for changes in signs or symptoms rather than immediate treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous). Most are caused by overactive thyroid tissue, cysts, or inflammation. Doctors use ultrasound features and fine-needle aspiration biopsy to determine if a nodule is suspicious. Only a small percentage of nodules are malignant, so finding one is common and usually not a cause for immediate alarm, though it does require monitoring.
fter surgery, patients are often advised to monitor for hypothyroidism symptoms and take levothyroxine consistently, usually on an empty stomach. Dietary adjustments may include increasing calcium and vitamin D intake if the parathyroid glands were affected, leading to temporary or permanent hypoparathyroidism. Additionally, patients should avoid smoking and limit alcohol, as these can impair wound healing and interact with thyroid hormone absorption.
Radioactive iodine (RAI) is an oral capsule that targets and destroys remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells that still take up iodine, which is common in differentiated thyroid cancers. External beam radiation uses high-energy X-rays from outside the body to target specific areas and is typically reserved for more aggressive cancers, like anaplastic thyroid cancer, or when the cancer has spread to areas that RAI cannot reach, such as the brain or bones.
If you have a known genetic syndrome like MEN2, which is linked to medullary thyroid cancer, screening is much more aggressive and begins at a younger age, often in infancy or early childhood. This involves regular blood tests for calcitonin levels and genetic counseling. Unlike sporadic thyroid cancer, which is often found incidentally in adults, hereditary forms require proactive surveillance to detect and treat the disease before it becomes advanced.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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