Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Thyroid cancer is a disease that you get when abnormal cells grow in your thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy and that help your body work normally. Most people who have thyroid cancer do very well because it is slow growing, is usually found early, and the treatments work well.

More women than men are diagnosed with thyroid cancer. People who have been exposed to a lot of radiation also have a greater chance of getting thyroid cancer. A dental X-ray will not increase the chance of getting thyroid cancer. But past radiation treatments of your head, neck, or chest (especially during childhood) can put you at risk of getting thyroid cancer. Radiation was used from the 1920s to the 1950s to treat problems such as acne or enlarged tonsils.

Thyroid cancer can cause several symptoms:
• A lump or swelling in the neck.
• Pain in the neck and ears.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Trouble breathing or constant wheezing.
• Hoarse voice.
• Frequent cough that is not related to a cold.

Some people may not have any symptoms. Their doctors may find a lump or nodule in the neck during a physical exam. If you have a lump in your neck, your doctor may do a biopsy of your thyroid gland to check for cancer cells. A biopsy is a simple procedure in which a small piece of the thyroid tissue is removed, usually with a needle, and then checked. Thyroid cancer is treated with surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. It rarely needs radiation therapy and chemotherapy. What treatment you need depends on your age, the type of thyroid cancer you have, and how advanced is the disease.