Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Thyroid Cancer GuideSigns and Symptoms That Thyroid Cancer Is Metastasizing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Thyroid Cancer Guide
Thyroid cancer is relatively rare. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that there were 43,720 new cases of thyroid cancer and an estimated 2,120 people died of this disease in 2023.
Thyroid cancer most commonly begins as agrowth(called a nodule) in thethyroid gland, which is located in the lower, front part of your neck. Usually, the nodule does not cause any symptoms; although a large thyroid nodule may cause pain or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
If symptoms are present, the most common one is the presence of a new thyroid growth or swelling, called a thyroid nodule.A fine-needle aspiration biopsy is often used to determine if a thyroid nodule is malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).
Symptoms and signs that are suggestive of a malignant nodule:Rapid growth of the nodule within a short period of timeNodule that feels “stuck” or tightly attached to the surrounding tissuePresence oflymph node swellingin the neck on the same side as the nodule
Symptoms and signs that are suggestive of a malignant nodule:
What Are Thyroid Cancer Symptoms in Females?
Uncommon symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Withmedullary thyroid cancer, which accounts for only 1 to 2% of all thyroid cancers, a person may experience symptoms like diarrhea, itching, and flushing if cancer has spread throughout the body.
What Does the Thyroid Gland Do?
Thyroid cancer that metastasizes (spreads) outside of the neck is not typical, but it does happen if the tumor is not detected and treated early.
Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that metastasis is most likely to occur withanaplastic thyroid cancer, which is a very rare, but aggressive type of thyroid cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all cases.Symptoms of anaplastic thyroid cancer include a rapidly growing neck lump that is large and firm, as well as hoarseness, problems swallowing and problems breathing.
Lung and Bone Metastasis
If there is any distant spread with thyroid cancer, the most common organs are the lungs and bones.
Brain Metastasis
Even rarer, thyroid cancer may spread tothe brain. Experts estimate that this occurs in 0.1 to 5% of all cases ofpapillary thyroid cancer(the most common type of thyroid cancer).
Symptoms of brain metastasis vary according to where the metastatic lesion(s) are located in the brain. For example, in one case study inHead and Neck Oncology,a 75-year old woman developed gradually worsening dizziness, headaches, and vomiting and was found to have metastatic thyroid cancer to an area of her brain called the cerebellum (a region of the brain that helps control movement and coordination).
How Does a Metastasis Occur?
If you feel a new swelling or lump in your neck, or if an imaging test incidentally reveals a thyroid growth, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider right away.
During your appointment, your healthcare provider will:
Depending on the results of these tests, your primary care or family healthcare provider may refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in thyroid care (called an endocrinologist). An endocrinologist may take another look at the thyroid nodule with ultrasound in his or her office and perform a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy to see whether cancer cells are present.
Thyroid Cancer Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
The diagnosis of thyroid cancer has been on the rise both in the United States and worldwide, due in large part to the sophistication of high-resolution imaging tests.In other words, these thyroid nodules that would never have been found years ago are now being identified.
While the majority of these small nodules end up not being cancer, determining which ones are is key—this is because most thyroid cancers are curable, especially those that are small and have not spread.
On a final note, if you have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. Through a genetic counselor, you can undergo genetic testing to see if you carry the gene mutations connected to medullary thyroid cancer.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, a thyroid nodule can cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, such as a piece of food.Although a thyroid nodule can sometimes cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, most are asymptomatic (you can not feel them). Further, there are other diagnoses that may cause a sensation of something stuck in your throat, such as acid reflux disease or problems with your esophagus.The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,020 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. This makes it the thirteenth most common cancer.Females are more likely to get thyroid cancer than males.People with lowiodinelevels and radiation exposure are also more likely to get thyroid cancer. There are also several gene mutations that can contribute to developing thyroid cancer.
Yes, a thyroid nodule can cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, such as a piece of food.Although a thyroid nodule can sometimes cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, most are asymptomatic (you can not feel them). Further, there are other diagnoses that may cause a sensation of something stuck in your throat, such as acid reflux disease or problems with your esophagus.
Yes, a thyroid nodule can cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, such as a piece of food.
Although a thyroid nodule can sometimes cause a feeling like something is stuck in your throat, most are asymptomatic (you can not feel them). Further, there are other diagnoses that may cause a sensation of something stuck in your throat, such as acid reflux disease or problems with your esophagus.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,020 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. This makes it the thirteenth most common cancer.
Females are more likely to get thyroid cancer than males.People with lowiodinelevels and radiation exposure are also more likely to get thyroid cancer. There are also several gene mutations that can contribute to developing thyroid cancer.
Thyroid Disease Causes and Risk Factors
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer.American Thyroid Association.Medullary thyroid cancer.Cabanillas ME, McFadden DG, Durante C.Thyroid cancer.Lancet.2016 Dec 3;388(10061):2783-2795. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30172-6Tsuda K, Tsurushima H, Takano S, Tsuboi K,Matsumuba A.Brain metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinomas.Mol Clin Oncol. 2013 Sep;1(5):817-19. doi:10.3892/mco.2013.139Al-Dhahri SF, Al-Amro AS, Al-Shakwer W, Terkawi AS.Cerebellar mass as a primary presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review. Head Neck Oncol. 2009;1:23. doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-23Clayman Thyroid Center.Thyroid nodule symptoms.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for thyroid cancer.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program. cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer.American Thyroid Association.Medullary thyroid cancer.Cabanillas ME, McFadden DG, Durante C.Thyroid cancer.Lancet.2016 Dec 3;388(10061):2783-2795. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30172-6Tsuda K, Tsurushima H, Takano S, Tsuboi K,Matsumuba A.Brain metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinomas.Mol Clin Oncol. 2013 Sep;1(5):817-19. doi:10.3892/mco.2013.139Al-Dhahri SF, Al-Amro AS, Al-Shakwer W, Terkawi AS.Cerebellar mass as a primary presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review. Head Neck Oncol. 2009;1:23. doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-23Clayman Thyroid Center.Thyroid nodule symptoms.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for thyroid cancer.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program. cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer.American Thyroid Association.Medullary thyroid cancer.Cabanillas ME, McFadden DG, Durante C.Thyroid cancer.Lancet.2016 Dec 3;388(10061):2783-2795. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30172-6Tsuda K, Tsurushima H, Takano S, Tsuboi K,Matsumuba A.Brain metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinomas.Mol Clin Oncol. 2013 Sep;1(5):817-19. doi:10.3892/mco.2013.139Al-Dhahri SF, Al-Amro AS, Al-Shakwer W, Terkawi AS.Cerebellar mass as a primary presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review. Head Neck Oncol. 2009;1:23. doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-23Clayman Thyroid Center.Thyroid nodule symptoms.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for thyroid cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer.
American Thyroid Association.Medullary thyroid cancer.
Cabanillas ME, McFadden DG, Durante C.Thyroid cancer.Lancet.2016 Dec 3;388(10061):2783-2795. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30172-6
Tsuda K, Tsurushima H, Takano S, Tsuboi K,Matsumuba A.Brain metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinomas.Mol Clin Oncol. 2013 Sep;1(5):817-19. doi:10.3892/mco.2013.139
Al-Dhahri SF, Al-Amro AS, Al-Shakwer W, Terkawi AS.Cerebellar mass as a primary presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review. Head Neck Oncol. 2009;1:23. doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-23
Clayman Thyroid Center.Thyroid nodule symptoms.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for thyroid cancer.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program. cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program. cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
