What is thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer is not common. The thyroid is a small gland in the front of your neck, just below your voicebox (larynx) and near your windpipe (trachea). The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. This system makes thyroid hormones that help control the way your body functions.
Around 4000 people in the UK are diagnosed with thyroid cancer each year. It is more common in women and people assigned female at birth. There are different types of thyroid cancer.
The thyroid gland is close to the parathyroid glands. They have similar names, but they do different things. Thyroid cancer and parathyroid cancer are treated in different ways. We have separate information about parathyroid cancer.
In this video, Macmillan Cancer Specialist Nurse, Amy, talks about some of the things you may want to know about thyroid cancer, the signs and symptoms, treatments and common misconceptions.
Related pages
Types of thyroid cancer
Papillary
This is the most common type of thyroid cancer. It is usually slow-growing and is more common in younger people.
We have more information about papillary thyroid cancer.
Follicular
This is a less common type of thyroid cancer. It is mostly found in middle-aged people.
We have more information about follicular thyroid cancer.
Hurthle cell thyroid
Other types of thyroid cancer
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Medullary
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare type of thyroid cancer. It can sometimes run in families. We have more information about medullary thyroid cancer.
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Anaplastic
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a very rare type of thyroid cancer that is fast-growing. We have more information about anaplastic thyroid cancer.
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Thyroid lymphoma
Thyroid lymphomas start in the lymph tissue of the thyroid. The lymph tissue is part of the body’s lymphatic system. Most thyroid lymphomas are a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and are treated with treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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Thyroid sarcoma
This is very rare. Most soft tissue sarcomas start in the arms or legs. But they can develop anywhere in the body including the thyroid. We have more information about soft tissue sarcomas.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
In most people, thyroid cancer develops very slowly. You may have the following symptoms:
- a painless lump or swelling in the neck, that usually slowly gets bigger. This is the most common symptom. Most thyroid lumps will not be cancer. But you should still get it checked by a doctor.
- a hoarse voice that has no obvious cause and does not go away after a few weeks
- difficulty swallowing – caused by a thyroid tumour pressing on the gullet (oesophagus)
- difficulty breathing – caused by a thyroid tumour pressing on the windpipe (trachea)
- pain in the front of the neck.
It is important to get any lump checked. You should visit your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms.
Different types of thyroid cancer may have other symptoms. We have more information about the symptoms of: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
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Causes of thyroid cancer
We do not know what causes thyroid cancer in most people. But there are some things that may increase your risk of developing it.
The risk factors are different depending on the type of thyroid cancer you have. We have more information about the causes and risk factors for papillary and follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Diagnosing thyroid cancer
You usually start by visiting your GP. Your GP will examine the lump or swelling in your neck and ask about any other symptoms you might have.
If they think it could be cancer, you should have a hospital appointment. This is usually within 2 weeks.
The different types of thyroid cancer may be diagnosed with different types of tests. Some of the main tests to diagnose thyroid cancer include:
Tests may include:
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Blood tests
You usually have blood tests to show how well your thyroid is working and to check your general health.
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Ultrasound of your neck
An ultrasound uses sound waves to build up a picture of the inside of the neck and the thyroid gland.
Biopsy -
Biopsy
During a biopsy, a doctor gently passes a small needle into the lump or swelling in your neck to take a sample of cells. The sample will be examined under a microscope, to check for any abnormal cells.
You may also have some further tests. We have more information about diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Waiting for test results can be a difficult time. We have more information that can help.
Related pages
Staging and grading of thyroid cancer
The stage of a cancer describes its size and whether it has spread from where it started. Staging helps doctors plan the best treatment for you.
Each type of thyroid cancer has different staging. We have more information about staging and grading papillary and follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Treatment of thyroid cancer
A team of specialists will meet to discuss the best possible treatment for you. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The treatment you have depends on the:
- type of thyroid cancer
- the stage of the cancer
- the risk of it coming back
- your general health.
Your doctor, cancer specialist or nurse will explain the different treatments and their side effects. They will also talk to you about things to consider when making treatment decisions before you agree (consent) to have treatment.
Thyroid surgery is usually the main treatment for most types of thyroid cancer. You often have other treatment after surgery. We have more information about having surgery to remove part of all of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy).
Different types of thyroid cancer are treated differently. We have information about:
You may have some treatments as part of a clinical trial.
After thyroid cancer treatment
Follow-up after treatment for thyroid cancer
You will have regular check-ups during and after your treatment. Follow-up appointments are a good time for you to talk to your cancer doctor or specialist nurse about any concerns you have.
In the first year, you usually have check-ups every few months. You will have regular blood tests and may need further scans.
We have more information about follow-up care after treatment.
Wellbeing and recovery
It can take time to recover after thyroid cancer treatment. Some days you may feel better than others.
A healthy lifestyle can help speed up your recovery. Even small lifestyle changes may improve your wellbeing and long term health.
Even if you already have a healthy lifestyle, you may choose to make some positive changes after treatment. We have more information on leading a healthy lifestyle after treatment.
More information and advice
We know cancer can affect you physically, emotionally and financially. We have information and advice about different ways cancer might impact you, such as help with:
Support after thyroid cancer
People often have many different feelings when they finish thyroid cancer treatment. You may feel relieved that treatment has ended, but worried about what will happen in the future.
It is important to know where to get support or information if you need it. People often need support even if it has been some time since they finished cancer treatment. But sometimes it is difficult to know who to ask for help.
To find support:
- ask your GP or someone from your cancer team for advice about support in your area
- find cancer support services near you
- call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
- chat to our cancer information specialists online
- visit our Online Community thyroid cancer forum to talk to people who have been affected by thyroid cancer, share your experience, and ask questions.
The HOPE programme is a free 6 week self-management course designed to help you develop techniques and strategies when living with or after cancer.
Topics include goal setting, fatigue management, and wellbeing. You can sign up for the online HOPE programme. Or to find out more about face to face programmes in your area, email ServiceOpsSupport@macmillan.org.uk
Other organisations who offer information and support
There are also other organisations that can give you information and support. These include:
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our thyroid cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at
informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE). [NG230]. Thyroid cancer: assessment and management. Published: 19 December 2022. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance
Datta, R. British Medical Journal Best Practice Guidelines, Thyroid cancer. 2023. British Medical Journal. Available from: www.bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/263
European Society Medical Oncology (ESMO): Thyroid cancer, Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-up. 2019. Available from: www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(20)32555-2/fulltext
Date reviewed
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