Thyroid Cancer Symptoms & Early Warning Signs

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms & Early Warning Signs

This post will teach you how to identify thyroid cancer symptoms and teach you what to look out for if you suspect you have thyroid cancer.

It is important to understand thyroid cancer because some thyroid conditions may mimic or cause symptoms that may cause a “thyroid cancer scare”.  

Learn more about these conditions and how to proceed if you believe you are suffering from them…

Thyroid Cancer Basics

As far as cancer goes, thyroid cancer is actually quite common. 

It is considered to be the most common cancer of the endocrine (hormone) system in your body and it represents about 3.8% of all new cancer cases in the United States (1). 

Put into perspective this means there are about 12 million new cases of thyroid cancer each year!

thyroid cancer basic statistics

This isn’t a small number which is why it’s important to discuss some basics, including the symptoms of thyroid cancer. 

This may have to do with how susceptible and sensitive the thyroid gland is to radiation, but there are probably many other factors at play. 

The good news about thyroid cancer is that while it is very common it is easily treated (especially compared to other cancers). 

In addition, it also has a very good survival rate, boasting around 95%+ 5-year survival rate

Thyroid cancer is often caught early because of its location in the body. 

Because the thyroid gland is located in your neck and because there isn’t much tissue between your thyroid gland and the skin, changes to the gland are sometimes noticeable to patients. 

This is both a good and a bad thing. 

Good in the sense that this allows us to catch thyroid cancer very early (2), and bad in the sense that changes to your thyroid gland may be easily felt and, therefore, cause anxiety. 

If you fall into this category and are worried you might have cancer because of some changes or symptoms you are experiencing I have some good news for you:

Most cases of thyroid cancer are actually asymptomatic!

Asymptomatic is a term that basically means zero symptoms. 

And again, this is both a good and a bad thing (3). 

Good in the sense that whatever you are experiencing might not be anything serious and bad in the sense that how do we know if you actually have thyroid cancer? 

We will talk more about some of the conditions which may lead you to believe that you have thyroid cancer, but for now, let’s focus on some of the symptoms you may experience if you do indeed have thyroid cancer. 

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Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

Believe it or not, most people who have thyroid cancer don’t actually have any symptoms. 

It’s not until thyroid cancer has evolved and it has grown to a considerable size that it often causes symptoms. 

Most of the symptoms of thyroid cancer, if it is large enough, tend to be from compression of anatomical objects located in the neck (4). 

basic anatomy of the thyroid in the neck

As you can imagine there isn’t much room in the neck, especially in front of your esophagus and trachea. 

So if there is a problem with the thyroid gland it is often felt fairly quickly. 

Occasionally some nodules can hide “behind” the thyroid gland, but this isn’t that common. 

Instead, as thyroid cancer grows it tends to push on vital structures in your neck which will often lead to characteristic symptoms. 

Symptoms of thyroid cancer (if it is sufficiently large) include: 

  • Compression of the esophagus or trachea
  • Difficulty swallowing – 
  • Swelling or enlargement of the neck (bulge in the neck)
  • Changes to speech including hoarseness
  • Enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck
  • Symptoms of thyroid goiter
  • Pain in the neck, especially around the thyroid gland (cancer is usually painless but it may cause inflammation to the surrounding tissues)
  • Constant non-productive cough

Again, these symptoms are relatively uncommon unless your thyroid cancer has grown to a large enough size. 

The vast majority of cases are caught early by local physicians during a routine physical exam where your doctor will palpate or feel your thyroid gland for changes. 

If there are any irregularities felt during this exam then you will most likely be sent for an imaging study such as an ultrasound which will often show any changes to your gland

Very rarely does thyroid cancer actually result in changes to thyroid hormone in the body. 

We often think about the thyroid as the gland that helps regulate very important functions such as your heart rate, metabolism, and energy levels. 

It follows that if there is cancer of that gland that perhaps these functions may become dysregulated or not work properly. 

And that actually isn’t true – at least not for the majority of the cases. 

Most of the time thyroid function is preserved (5) (which means it’s not altered) in cases of thyroid cancer. 

The treatment for thyroid cancer is often complete removal of the thyroid gland and this may cause dysfunction to your thyroid hormones – but it’s not the other way around. 

This is important because people may believe they have thyroid cancer because they are experiencing hypothyroid or hyperthyroid-like symptoms. 

So just realize that most of the time those symptoms are not associated with cancer but associated with some other condition. 

Conditions that may lead you to Believe you have Thyroid Cancer

When discussing thyroid cancer it’s important to discuss conditions that may lead you to believe you have thyroid cancer and may prompt a search into this disease. 

The conditions listed below result in physical changes to the thyroid gland which can be felt both from a symptomatic standpoint but also from a physical and anatomical standpoint. 

Thyroid Nodules

The first of the conditions that may cause a “thyroid cancer scare” is a thyroid nodule. 

Thyroid nodules are actually incredibly common with estimates that up to 7% of the entire World’s population may have a thyroid nodule. 

So what is a thyroid nodule?

A thyroid nodule is really just a mass or growth on your thyroid gland. 

The vast majority of the time these nodules are considered benign (6) (meaning they aren’t harmful). 

But if you feel an irregularity or bump on your thyroid gland it will obviously cause some distress.

Take comfort in knowing that most thyroid nodules are not thyroid cancer, but some thyroid cancers may arise from thyroid nodules. 

For this reason, thyroid nodules are often monitored very closely with ultrasound imaging (7). 

Depending on the size, and certain characteristics, your doctor may also order a biopsy to rule out thyroid cancer. 

Goiter

A thyroid goiter is another condition that may result in you believing you have thyroid cancer. 

The term goiter is actually a very non-specific term and it really means an enlargement of the thyroid gland. 

The problem with this term is that it doesn’t say anything about the cause!

This means that you can have a goiter from thyroid cancer or a goiter from a thyroid nodule or a goiter from a thyroid cyst or a goiter from iodine deficiency and so on (8). 

It just means an enlargement of the thyroid gland. Period. 

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Obviously, though, if you can feel your thyroid gland and it feels enlarged then you might be concerned you have thyroid cancer. 

Don’t let this be your number 1 concern. 

Many causes of thyroid goiter are reversible and/or may simply just be managed with watchful waiting. 

If you do feel that your thyroid gland it should be evaluated, but that by itself is not necessarily a big concern for thyroid cancer. 

You can learn more about all of the causes of thyroid goiter in this post

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Another very common condition, and one that may cause symptoms that are similar to thyroid cancer is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland in which your body starts to attack and destroy your own thyroid gland. 

And this condition is actually very common as well with an incidence that may be as high as 6% of the population in some areas (9). 

The issue with Hashimoto’s is that it is an inflammatory disease which means that it may cause enlargement and inflammation of the thyroid gland. 

This enlargement may result in compression of local anatomical objects and present with symptoms such as a painful thyroid gland, hoarseness, and swelling of the neck. 

These symptoms are very similar to those of thyroid cancer so it’s easy to see why some people would be concerned if they have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

The good news is that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is easily identified with simple blood testing such as checking for thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies (10). 

The presence of these lab markers in combination with your symptoms may help shed light on the diagnosis. 

Hashimoto’s also often presents with the symptoms of hypothyroidism because it DOES cause damage to the thyroid gland. 

This may also be helpful in differentiating Hashimoto’s from thyroid cancer. 

You can learn more about diagnosing Hashimoto’s in this post

Thyroid Cyst

A thyroid cyst is an enlargement of a portion of the thyroid gland which is often filled with colloidal fluid

Thyroid cysts really fall into the category of thyroid nodules and the reason for that is that you can’t really identify a nodule as a cyst until you see it on thyroid imaging. 

But it is included here because you may find through an ultrasound that you have a “thyroid cyst”. 

Thyroid cysts are usually benign and do not require treatment but they can be felt or palpated as a thyroid nodule and may therefore cause a scare. 

What to do if you suspect you have Thyroid Cancer

So what do you do if you suspect that you have thyroid cancer or if you have any of the symptoms we discussed above?

The first step is to make an appointment with your Doctor and to determine what the actual cause is. 

In most cases this visit will include the following:

  • Complete history and physical exam – including thyroid exam, family history, and history of radiation exposure
  • Thyroid function lab tests including thyroid antibodies
  • Thyroid ultrasound (if irregularity or thyroid nodule is found)
  • Iodine testing
  • Other blood tests such as inflammatory markers

These basic tests will provide significant information on your condition and may help guide further treatment and management. 

If a thyroid nodule is found your doctor may also order a fine needle aspiration of the tissue and examine the tissue for thyroid cancer. 

For most conditions (excluding thyroid cancer) it may be appropriate for your Doctor to simply monitor your condition and re-evaluate for changes with further imaging studies. 

Final Thoughts 

Most cases of thyroid cancer are caught early and treated completely with a procedure known as a thyroidectomy (which is the complete removal of the thyroid gland). 

Because most cases of thyroid cancer are caught early they tend to not present with symptoms. 

But if your thyroid cancer is sufficiently large then it may cause issues related to the anatomy of the neck. 

Watch for these changes and make sure that you discuss any concerns with your Doctor. 

Other conditions of the thyroid gland may also cause symptoms that may mimic thyroid cancer or cause concern for thyroid cancer

These conditions can be evaluated with a physical exam and further testing. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Are you experiencing symptoms that may be concerning for thyroid cancer?

Did you find the cause of your symptoms?

Leave your comments below! 

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415174/

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23819462

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4781765/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244507/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16916491

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575959/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879398/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23145396

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3271310/

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1092711

thyroid cancer presents with these warning signs

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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17 thoughts on “Thyroid Cancer Symptoms & Early Warning Signs”

  1. Greetings Dr. Childs,
    Thank you for your informative, educational article! A recent ultrasound showed a 2cm cyst on my left thyroid lobe and a tiny lobe on my right lobe. The Isthmus was thickened 6mm. I don’t know what it’s normal size is. Per ultrasound the cyst is benign. Would it still be advisable to do further testing? My TSH is 1.56, FT3 2.8 and FT4 1.2. I have debilitating fatigue, brain fog, brittle nails and lots of other hypothyroidism symptoms. I also was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s.

    Reply
    • Hi Stefanie,

      I would definitely pursue further investigation into the cause of your symptoms. At this point it seems that Hashimoto’s may be the cause of at least some of them.

      Reply
  2. Ten years ago I had my thyroid removed plus surrounding affected glands plus my parathyroid which was mistakenly removed. I have considerable hair loss and my nails are hopelessly weak. I take 75 micro grams of Eutirox which I believe is a brand of Levothyroxine plus considerable amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Can you suggest/recommend any supplements that could save my hair, nails and skin tone?

    Reply
  3. I noticed an enlarged cervical lymph node on one side next to thyroid area. This began a few weeks ago. Within the last two weeks I’ve noticed that when I swallow, it feels like something is there in my throat. In addition I’ve had a dry cough that feels like it originates from the same area.
    Just saw primary who ordered blood work and thyroid US. The US tech mentioned seeing nodule on opposite side of the swollen lymph node.
    I’m feeling a little uneasy waiting for results. Many of my symptoms match up with thyroid cancer that you present in your article. Hoping for a little insight from your end.

    Thank you,
    Stacey

    Reply
    • Hi Stacey,

      I understand your anxiety about the situation but there isn’t much to do but wait for your results at this point. You’ll get more information once you have a readout of the radiology report and information about the size/location and other characteristics of the nodule (if it’s present). From there, your Doctor should be able to determine if you are at risk and if you need a biopsy, etc.

      Reply
  4. Hey!

    What happens to Hashimoto’s after a thyroidectomy? I had my thyroid removed due to a cancerous nodule but at the same time I found out I have Hashimoto’s (high antibodies), so does it disappear after the removal of the thyroid or I still need to address it? thanks

    Reply
  5. Hi Dr. Child’s,
    I have an adenoma on my parathyroid causing hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism. My endo has also found a nodule on my thyroid that requires a FNA. That came back with results saying: Focal nuclear atypia with enlargement and grooving
    Implied Cancer Risk & Recommended Management:
    Atypia of Undetermined Significance / Follicular Lesion of Undetermined
    I’m being tested for MENs1 before I go in for surgery to determine what will be done. I guess my question is should I get another biopsy? Should I get a total thyroidectomy if I don’t have MENs?

    Reply
  6. Dr. Childs,

    I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s early 2022 through bloodwork and an ultrasound. Just recently I’ve had a lump on the right side of the thyroid, a cough (that I usually have a dry cough that doesn’t hurt but now it has started to hurt on the back of my throat a lot which is very new for me), difficulty swallowing (which is not new for me besides the pain when I swallow) but I have not experienced hoarseness. I guess my question is – is it worth it to get the ultrasound done again (can that distinguish cancer from Hashimoto’s and is it worth the money with the symptoms and previous diagnose I have)?

    Reply
    • Hi Hannah,

      If you found a new lump on your throat/thyroid then it would be a very good idea to get that evaluated.

      Reply
  7. I have what feels like a lump in my throat, I can’t swallow anything without it being very painful.
    I also have some discomfort on the front of my neck (just off to the left ) when I touch it. I have lost 2.4 kgs in 5 days as I’m not able to eat/drink anything other than a little porridge. This has been going on for 1 week now. I saw a doctor who said he thought it may be Globus and prescribed Omeprazole but these haven’t helped.
    Can you please offer any advice as I’m a little concerned

    Reply
  8. Hi Dr Childs
    I am a 52 year old mother of two, I developed Hypothyroidism several years ago which has been stabilised with Levothyroxine, but recently my TSH has fluctuated from 9 to 0.04.
    For quite sometime, I have been suffering from brain fog, fatigue and muscle pain but there are no lumps around the throat. When I recently checked my medical record a reference to thyroid cancer was made, the doctor did not know my family pmh at the time.
    Unfortunately a month ago, my cousin died of Thyroid cancer she was 65 and my grandfather also died of Thyroid cancer. Please advise should I have an ultrasound and a full blood profile check for my a thyroid.
    Thank you for your help

    Reply
    • Hi Jasmine,

      Given that an ultrasound is a relatively simple procedure, you can certainly look into it as an option if you have concern over your family history.

      Reply

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