What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?

Sometimes people with thyroid cancer do not have any symptoms. In other cases, these symptoms are similar to those of other medical conditions. Thyroid cancer can cause any of the signs and symptoms listed below. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk to your doctor.

• Cough - A cough that continues and is not due to a cold.
• Lump (nodule) - You might be able to feel a nodule in the front of the neck near the Adam’s apple. These nodules sometimes grow rapidly. A single nodule is the most common sign of thyroid cancer.
• Breathing problems - You may feel as though you were breathing through a straw.
• Hoarseness - You may find it hard to talk in a normal voice.
• Pain - Usually, the pain happens in the throat or the front of the neck, and it sometimes spreads up to the ears.
• Swollen lymph nodes - The swollen lymph nodes are usually in the neck. They can sometimes be found during a physical examination.
• Swallowing problems - This might happen if the tumor is pushing on your esophagus (tube from the throat to the stomach). 

Other cancers of the neck area and many noncancerous conditions can cause some of the same symptoms. Thyroid nodules are common and usually benign. But the only way to find out if your symptoms are due to a thyroid cancer, another kind of cancer, or a benign condition is to have a medical evaluation. The sooner you receive a correct diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment and the more effective your treatment will be.