The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate blood pressure, metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid begin to grow out of control. There are three main types of thyroid cancer: differentiated, medullary, and anaplastic, with differentiated being the most common form.
Some common symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
Most thyroid cancers are not linked to avoidable risk factors, which makes prevention challenging. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent the disease, limiting unnecessary radiation exposure to the neck, maintaining a healthy weight, and learning about your family history through genetic testing may help reduce risk.
Depending on the disease stage and type and the tumor’s size and cell type, thyroid cancer may be treated with one or a combination of the following:
