Thyroid Cancer

Learn about thyroid cancer types, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments for papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid cancers.

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.

Statistics

  • In 2026, an estimated 45,240 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the United States.
  • An estimated 2,320 will die from thyroid cancer in 2026.
  • The five-year survival rate for thyroid cancer is 98% overall, but it drops to 93% for people diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer.

Risk Factors

  • Thyroid cancer is not completely preventable, but certain risk factors can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease:
  • Being Female: Due to hormonal factors, women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules.
  • History of Enlarged Thyroid (Goiters): Most goiters (enlarged thyroid gland) are benign; however, they may signify
    underlying issues, such as chronic inflammation or structural changes, that can lead to thyroid cancer.
  • Excess Body Weight: Having extra body weight can increase thyroid cancer risk through chronic inflammation, hormonal
    imbalances, and increased growth factors.
  • Radiation Exposure: Radiation exposure is a known thyroid cancer risk factor because it directly damages DNA in thyroid cells that can lead to genetic mutations.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

  • Lump in front of the neck
  • Hoarseness
  • Tight or full feeling in the neck
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Pain in the throat or neck that doesn’t go away on its own

Prevention

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.

  • Avoiding or stopping smoking
  • Staying physically active
  • Avoiding or limiting alcohol
  • Eating a diet rich in protein and fiber
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

Treatment Options

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:

  • Surgery
  • Targeted drugs
  • Hormone therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radioactive iodine (RAI)