Experiences with
Thyroid cancer

SymptomsDiagnosisMedical treatmentsCauses

Symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump in the lower front part of the neck, a hoarse voice, a sore throat and difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Tests for thyroid cancer include blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the neck and taking a sample from the thyroid gland to check for cancer (biopsy).

The main treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery. You may also have hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, targeted medicines or radiotherapy.

You may be more likely to get thyroid cancer if you're a woman, a close family member has had thyroid cancer, or you have another thyroid condition.

Main symptoms of thyroid cancer

Symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

a lump in the front, lower part of your neck – the lump usually feels hard, slowly gets bigger and is not painful
a hoarse voice
a sore throat
difficulty swallowing or breathing
pain in the front of your neck, or a feeling like something is pressing against your neck

Other symptoms can include:

a red face (flushing) – this may be harder to see on brown or black skin
softer poos or diarrhoea
weight loss
a cough

If you have a thyroid condition, such as a goitre (swollen thyroid), you may get symptoms like these regularly.

You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.

you have a lump in your neck – either a new lump or an existing lump that's getting bigger
you've had a hoarse voice, sore throat or cough for more than 3 weeks
you have pain in the front of your neck, or a feeling like something is pressing against your neck

you're having difficulty swallowing or breathing

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

Who is more likely to get thyroid cancer

Anyone can get thyroid cancer. It's not always clear what causes it.

You might be more likely to get it if:

you're a woman and have not been through the menopause
you have a condition that affects the thyroid such as a swollen thyroid (goitre), Hashimoto's disease or nodules (non-cancerous lumps) in or on your thyroid
you have a brother, sister, parent or child who has had thyroid cancer
you were exposed to a lot of radiation or had radiotherapy treatment in the past, especially if it was when you were a child
you've had certain cancers before such as breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, testicular cancer or non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Many thyroid cancers are also linked to your lifestyle.

How to lower your chance of getting thyroid cancer

You cannot always prevent thyroid cancer. But making healthy changes can lower your chances of getting it and other types of cancer.

try to lose weight if you are overweight
try to cut down on alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
try to quit smoking

Main tests for thyroid cancer

If the GP refers you to a specialist, you may need more tests and scans to check for thyroid cancer.

Tests you may have include:

blood tests
an ultrasound scan of your neck
taking a small sample from your thyroid gland using a needle (biopsy), to be checked for cancer

You may not have all these tests.

Main treatments for thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is often treatable.

The treatment you have will depend on:

the size and type of thyroid cancer you have
if it has spread
your general health

It will usually include surgery. It may also include hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

The specialist care team looking after you will:

explain the treatments, benefits and side effects
work with you to create a treatment plan that's best for you
help you manage any side effects

You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. You may also have tests and scans.

If you have any symptoms or side effects that you're worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.

Where to find help and support

You and your loved ones will be supported throughout your treatment by a group of specialists.

The clinical nurse specialist, or another member of your specialist team will be able to give you information on local support services that you may find helpful.

There are also national cancer charities that offer support and information about thyroid cancer.