OverviewThyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones.
It's most common in people in their 30s and those over the age of 60. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop it than men.
Thyroid cancer is usually treatable and in many cases can be cured completely, although it can sometimes come back after treatment.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Symptoms of thyroid cancer can include:
- a painless lump or swelling in the front of the neck – although only 1 in 20 neck lumps are cancer
- swollen glands in the neck
- unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks
- a sore throat that does not get better
- difficulty swallowing
Find out more about the symptoms of thyroid cancer.
When to get medical advice
See a GP if you have symptoms of thyroid cancer. The symptoms may be caused by less serious conditions, such as an enlarged thyroid (goitre), so it's important to get them checked.
A GP will examine your neck and can organise a blood test to check how well your thyroid is working.
If they think you could have cancer or they're not sure what's causing your symptoms, you'll be referred to a hospital specialist for more tests.
Find out more about how thyroid cancer is diagnosed.
Types of thyroid cancer
There are 4 main types of thyroid cancer:
- papillary carcinoma – the most common type, accounting for about 8 in 10 cases; it usually affects people under 40, particularly women
- follicular carcinoma – accounts for up to 1 in 10 cases and tends to affect middle-aged adults, particularly women
- medullary thyroid carcinoma – accounts for less than 1 in 10 cases; unlike the other types, it can run in families
- anaplastic thyroid carcinoma – the rarest and most serious type, accounting for around 1 in 50 cases; it usually affects people over the age of 60
Papillary and follicular carcinomas are sometimes known as differentiated thyroid cancers. They tend to be easier to treat than the other types.
Causes of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer happens when there's a change to the DNA inside thyroid cells which causes them to grow uncontrollably and produce a lump.
It's not usually clear what causes this change, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk.
These include:
- other thyroid conditions, such as an inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) or goitre – but not an overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid
- a family history of thyroid cancer – your risk is higher if a close relative has had thyroid cancer
- radiation exposure in childhood – such as radiotherapy
- obesity
- a bowel condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- acromegaly – a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone
Treatments for thyroid cancer
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type of thyroid cancer you have and how far it has spread.
The main treatments are:
- surgery – to remove part or all of the thyroid
- radioactive iodine treatment – you swallow a radioactive substance that travels through your blood and kills the cancer cells
- external radiotherapy – a machine is used to direct beams of radiation at the cancer cells to kill them
- chemotherapy and targeted therapies – medicines used to kill cancer cells
After treatment, you'll have follow-up appointments to check whether the cancer has come back.
Read more about how thyroid cancer is treated.
Outlook for thyroid cancer
Around 9 in every 10 people are alive 5 years after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Many of these are cured and will have a normal lifespan.
But the outlook varies depending on the type of thyroid cancer and how early it was diagnosed. At present the outlook is:
- more than 9 in 10 people with papillary carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
- more than 9 in 10 people with follicular carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
- more than 7 in 10 men, and around 9 in 10 women with medullary thyroid carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
- around 1 in 10 people with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
Up to 1 in 4 people treated for thyroid cancer are later diagnosed with cancer in another part of the body, such as the lungs or bones, but cancer can often be treated again if this happens.
SymptomsThyroid cancer
The main symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump in the front of the neck.
But thyroid cancer tends to develop slowly and there may not be any symptoms at first.
Neck lump
Thyroid cancer often causes a painless lump or swelling low down in the front of the neck.
However, neck lumps are common and are usually caused by a less serious condition, such as an enlarged thyroid (goitre). Only around 1 in every 20 neck lumps are cancer.
A neck lump is more likely to be cancer if it:
- feels firm
- does not move around easily under the skin
- gets bigger over time
See a GP if you have a swelling or lump at the front of your neck. While it's unlikely to be cancer, it's important to get it checked.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
- swollen glands in the neck
- unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks
- a sore throat that does not get better
- pain in your neck
- difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing
Rarely, thyroid cancer can affect the production of thyroid hormones and cause diarrhoea and flushing.
These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but it's a good idea to see a GP if you develop any persistent symptoms that you're worried about.
DiagnosisThyroid cancer
It's a good idea to see your GP if you have possible symptoms of thyroid cancer.
Your GP will examine your neck and ask about any other symptoms you may be experiencing, such as unexplained hoarseness.
If they think you might have a thyroid problem, they may organise some tests or refer you to a hospital specialist.
The tests you may have are described below.
Blood test
A blood test called a thyroid function test is used to check the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood.
Abnormal levels could mean that you have an overactive thyroid or an underactive thyroid, rather than cancer.
Further tests, such as an ultrasound scan, will be needed if the test shows that your thyroid hormone levels are normal.
Ultrasound scan
An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body.
An ultrasound scan of your neck can check for a lump in your thyroid that could be caused by cancer.
If a potentially cancerous lump is found, a biopsy will be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Biopsy
The only way to confirm if a lump on the thyroid is cancer is to take a biopsy. This is where a small sample of cells are removed and studied under a microscope.
A biopsy of the thyroid is usually done by inserting a thin needle into the lump. An ultrasound scan may be done at the same time to guide the needle into the right place.
This is usually done as an outpatient procedure, which means you will not have to spend the night in hospital.
Further tests
If a biopsy finds that you have thyroid cancer, further tests may be needed to check whether the cancer had spread to another part of your body.
The main tests used for this are:
Stages of thyroid cancer
If you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, your doctor may give the cancer a stage.
Doctors usually use the TNM system to stage thyroid cancer. This is a combination of letters and numbers that describe its size and how far the cancer has spread.
- T (tumour) – given from 1 to 4, which describes the size of the tumour
- N (node) – given as either 0 or 1, to indicate whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph glands
- M (metastases) – given as either 0 or 1, to indicate whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Knowing the stage of your cancer will help your doctors decide on the best treatment for you.
Find out more about the TNM staging system for thyroid cancer from Cancer Research UK.
TreatmentThyroid cancer
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type of thyroid cancer you have and how far it has spread.
The main treatments are:
- a thyroidectomy – surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid
- radioactive iodine treatment – you swallow a radioactive substance that travels through your blood and kills the cancer cells
- external radiotherapy – a machine is used to direct beams of radiation at the cancer cells to kill them
- chemotherapy and targeted therapies – medicines used to kill cancer cells
You'll also need continuing care after treatment to check for and prevent any further problems.
Your treatment plan
You'll be cared for throughout your treatment by a team of healthcare professionals. Your team will recommend what they feel is the best treatment for you.
This will depend on the type of thyroid cancer you have. For example:
- papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma can usually be treated with surgery followed by radioactive iodine treatment
- medullary thyroid carcinoma is usually treated with surgery to remove the thyroid and often followed by radiotherapy
- anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cannot usually be treated with surgery, but radiotherapy and chemotherapy can help control the symptoms
You may want to write a list of questions to ask your healthcare team before you go to an appointment to discuss your treatment options.
Surgery
Surgery is the first treatment for most types of thyroid cancer. It may involve removing:
- part of the thyroid
- the whole thyroid
- nearby lymph glands
The operation is done under a general anaesthetic (where you're asleep). Most people are well enough to leave hospital after a few days.
You'll need to rest at home for a few weeks after surgery, and avoid any activities that could put a strain on your neck, such as heavy lifting. You'll have a small scar on your neck, but this should become less noticeable over time.
It's a good idea to talk to your surgeon about the exact operation they recommend and find out what it involves.
Radioactive iodine treatment
A course of radioactive iodine treatment is often recommended after surgery.
This will help destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
Preparing for treatment
To make the treatment more effective, you'll be advised to cut down on iodine in your diet for 1 to 2 weeks before the treatment.
It's recommended that you:
- avoid all seafood
- limit the amount of dairy products you eat
- do not take cough medicines – these can contain iodine
- eat plenty of fresh meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice
Tell your care team if you think you could be pregnant, as the treatment is not safe during pregnancy.
Women should avoid getting pregnant for at least 6 months after treatment, and men should avoid fathering a child for at least 4 months.
If you're breastfeeding, it's recommended that you stop for a number of weeks before treatment starts. Your doctor will be able to give you more advice.
The procedure
Radioactive iodine treatment involves swallowing radioactive iodine in either liquid or capsule form. The iodine travels through your blood and kills cancerous cells.
You'll need to stay in hospital for a few days afterwards because the iodine will make your body slightly radioactive. As a precaution, you'll need to stay in a single room and will not be able to have visitors at first.
You'll be able to have visitors and go home once the radiation levels in your body have come down. Your care team will advise you whether you need to take any precautions after going home.
Side effects
Side effects of radioactive iodine treatment are uncommon, but can include:
- neck pain or swelling
- feeling sick
- a dry mouth
- an unpleasant taste in the mouth
The treatment does not affect fertility in women. Fertility can be reduced in men after treatment, but it should improve over time.
Targeted therapies
Newer medicines known as targeted therapies are being used more widely to treat several types of thyroid cancer.
These specifically target cancer cells, rather than harming healthy cells at the same time, as chemotherapy does.
These may be recommended if thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic thyroid cancer) and has not responded to radioactive iodine treatment.
The 3 main drugs used as targeted therapies on the NHS for treating thyroid cancer are:
External radiotherapy
If radioactive iodine treatment is not suitable or is ineffective, external radiotherapy may be used after surgery to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer coming back.
It can also be used to control symptoms of advanced or anaplastic thyroid carcinomas if they cannot be fully removed by surgery.
External radiotherapy usually involves treatment once a day from Monday to Friday, with a break at weekends, for 4 to 6 weeks.
Side effects of radiotherapy can include:
- feeling and being sick
- tiredness
- pain when swallowing
- a dry mouth
These side effects should pass within a few weeks of treatment finishing.
Find out more about the side effects of radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is rarely used to treat thyroid cancer, but it's sometimes used to treat anaplastic thyroid carcinomas that have spread to other parts of the body.
It involves taking powerful medicines that kill cancerous cells. It does not cure thyroid cancer, but it may help to control the symptoms.
Find out more about chemotherapy.
After treatment
After your treatment has finished you may need to continue taking medicine to reduce the risk of further problems.
You'll also be advised to have regular check-ups to look for signs of the cancer coming back.
Medicines and supplements
If some, or all, of your thyroid gland is removed, it will no longer produce thyroid hormones.
This means you'll need to take replacement hormone tablets for the rest of your life to prevent symptoms of an underactive thyroid, such as fatigue, weight gain and dry skin.
Occasionally, the parathyroid glands can be affected during surgery. These glands are located close to the thyroid gland and help regulate the levels of calcium in your blood.
If your parathyroid glands are affected, your calcium levels may temporarily decrease. If this happens, you might need to take calcium supplements until the glands start to function normally again.
Follow-up tests
Thyroid cancer can come back after treatment, so you'll be asked to attend regular check-ups to look for signs of this.
You may need tests every few months to begin with, but they'll be needed less frequently over time.
Tests you may have include:
- a blood test – to detect substances released by cancerous thyroid cells
- an ultrasound scan – to check for signs of cancer in your neck
- a radioisotope scan – a type of scan that highlights cancerous thyroid cells
Treatment will usually need to be repeated if your cancer does come back.
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