--- title: "Thyroid cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers" description: "Thyroid cancer — neck lump, diagnosis, types including papillary and medullary, and NHS treatment with surgery and radioactive iodine." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/thyroid-cancer/ robots: noindex --- # Thyroid cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Thyroid cancer — neck lump, diagnosis, types including papillary and medullary, and NHS treatment with surgery and radioactive iodine. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What is thyroid cancer? Thyroid cancer is cancer of the thyroid gland in the neck — often found as painless lump or incidentally on scan. Papillary thyroid cancer is commonest and has excellent prognosis — over 90% 10-year survival. Most need surgery (partial or total thyroidectomy) and may receive radioactive iodine. Thyroid function blood tests are usually normal. See a GP for lump in front of neck moving on swallowing, hoarse voice, or neck lymph nodes — 2-week wait referral. Very treatable compared with many cancers when caught early. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Thyroid cancer, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 6 sections ## Key facts about thyroid cancer - About 3,900 thyroid cancer cases in the UK each year — incidence rising partly due to incidental detection on imaging. - Papillary carcinoma accounts for about 80% — slow growing, excellent survival with treatment. - Neck lump in thyroid region that moves on swallowing — classic sign — most lumps are benign goitre or nodules. - Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy under ultrasound guides diagnosis — Bethesda classification. - Lifelong levothyroxine replacement after total thyroidectomy — TSH suppression may be used in high-risk disease. ## Thyroid cancer — usually highly treatable **Thyroid cancer** arises from **thyroid follicular or parafollicular cells** — **~3,900 UK cases/year** — **rising incidental detection**. **Papillary carcinoma** — **80%** — **excellent prognosis** ## Presentation **Classic:** - Painless anterior neck nodule - Moves with swallow - Normal TFTs usually **Concerning features (U3–U5 ultrasound):** - Solid hypoechoic nodule - Irregular margins - Microcalcifications - Taller than wide - Extrathyroidal extension - Abnormal lymph nodes See [underactive thyroid](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid/) — **goitre common** — **most nodules benign** ## Diagnosis pathway - Examination + TFTs - Ultrasound + U classification - FNA if U3–U5 or suspicious nodes - Bethesda cytology — I–VI - Surgery if malignant/indeterminate high risk ## Histological types | Type | Origin | Behaviour | | --- | --- | --- | | Papillary | Follicular cells | Indolent, lymph node spread common | | Follicular | Follicular cells | Haematogenous spread | | Medullary | C cells | Calcitonin , RET proto-oncogene | | Anaplastic | Dedifferentiated | Aggressive | ## Treatment **Surgery:** - Hemithyroidectomy — low-risk micro papillary - Total thyroidectomy — larger, multifocal, nodes, high risk **Radioactive iodine (I-131):** - Ablation remnant and micrometastases - Only works differentiated — papillary/follicular - Low-iodine diet preparation **Levothyroxine:** - Replacement lifelong - TSH suppression — high-risk years — balance vs osteoporosis/AF risk ## Follow-up **Thyroglobulin** — **tumour marker post-total thyroidectomy** **Neck ultrasound** — **annual early years** **Most return to normal life** — **pregnancy safe after stable remission** — **levothyroxine adjusted** Neck lump **at Adam’s apple level moving on swallow** — **GP ultrasound** — **likely benign**, **cancer if present usually curable**. ## ! When to see a GP about thyroid cancer See a GP within 2 weeks for a lump at front of neck especially if firm, growing, fixed, or with hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, or enlarged neck lymph nodes. NICE 2-week wait if suspicious thyroid nodule on examination or ultrasound. Same-day if stridor or rapidly enlarging neck mass causing breathing difficulty. Most thyroid nodules are benign — but need ultrasound assessment. ## Common questions about thyroid cancer What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? Painless neck lump in thyroid area moving on swallowing — often only sign. Hoarse voice if recurrent laryngeal nerve involved. Difficulty swallowing, neck lymph node enlargement, rarely stridor. Usually normal thyroid function blood tests — not hyper or hypothyroid from cancer itself. Many found incidentally on carotid or chest CT. What are the types of thyroid cancer? Papillary — commonest, best prognosis. Follicular — may spread via blood to bone/lung. Medullary — from C cells, calcitonin marker, sometimes genetic (MEN2). Anaplastic — rare, aggressive, older patients. Lymphoma of thyroid — rare, distinct treatment. How is thyroid cancer diagnosed? Ultrasound thyroid with U classification of nodules. Fine needle aspiration biopsy — cytology Bethesda category. Staging CT/MRI if advanced disease. Serum calcitonin if medullary suspected. Post-surgery histology confirms type and risk stratification. How is thyroid cancer treated? Surgery — hemithyroidectomy for low-risk unifocal microcarcinoma or total thyroidectomy for larger/multifocal/high-risk. Radioactive iodine ablation (I-131) for selected intermediate/high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer. Lifelong levothyroxine after total thyroidectomy. External radiotherapy for anaplastic or unresectable disease. What is the outlook for thyroid cancer? Papillary — 10-year survival over 90% — one of the most curable cancers. Recurrence monitored with thyroglobulin blood test and neck ultrasound. Most live normal lifespan. Anaplastic — poor prognosis — rare. ## Sources - [NHS — Thyroid cancer](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thyroid-cancer/) - [British Thyroid Foundation](https://www.btf-thyroid.org/) - [NICE — Thyroid disease assessment and management](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145)