The most common symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
- A lump or swelling in the neck
- Hoarseness or other voice changes
- Neck pain that can move up into the ears
- Swollen lymph nodes
- A constant cough, without symptoms of a cold
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble swallowing
Speak with your doctor if you have any new or changing symptoms. Lumps on the thyroid, also called nodules, are common, and many are not cancer. The other symptoms listed here can also be caused by other conditions, many of which are not cancer.
Diagnosis
To find out if you have thyroid cancer, your healthcare provider may order exams and tests. They will also do a physical exam and ask you questions about your health history, risk factors, symptoms and your family history. You may have one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
- Neck exam: During this exam, your healthcare provider will feel for any abnormal lumps in your neck.
- Ultrasound: This is the most common test used to find thyroid cancer. An ultrasound uses sound waves to check your thyroid for tumors by using a probe that shows images on a video screen.
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan: This test allows doctors see images of your organs, bones and other soft tissues inside your body, using a combination of X-rays and software.
- Blood tests: Your doctor may order blood tests to see how well your thyroid gland is working. Specific blood tests may be done to check the levels of certain hormones or proteins in your body.
- : During this test, a doctor uses a small needle to remove a sample of thyroid tissue. The tissue is sent to a lab to check it for cancer cells.
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