Thyroid cancers

Malignant (cancerous) thyroid tumours are rare and are most common in people in their 30s and those aged over 60.Women are more likely to develop it than men. Tumours of the thyroid gland can be removed by surgery in most cases. The thyroid gland makes the hormones T3 and T4, which control your metabolic rate, and calcitonin which regulates the amount of calcium in your blood. The most common symptoms of thyroid tumours are:

• a painless lump (swelling) in the neck
• hoarse voice
• sore throat
• difficulty swallowing

In rare cases, thyroid cancer can cause more unusual symptoms, such as loose bowel movements or flushing (redness) of the face.

Thyroid tumours can be diagnosed in several ways. Your GP or consultant will discuss your symptoms with you. Tests they may recommend include:

• blood test (to determine how well the thyroid gland is working)
• biopsy (a small sample of cells may be taken from the thyroid tumour and examined under a microscope)
• CT scan or ultrasound of the thyroid tumour

Treatment options for thyroid tumours depend on the type of cancer you have, whether it has spread and your overall health and fitness. These may include:

• Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
• Radioactive iodine treatment, where a radioactive substance is swallowed and travels through your blood to kill the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy to prevent the growth of cancer.
• Radiotherapy to kill cancer cells through radiation.