In its early stages, thyroid cancer tends to cause no or very few symptoms.
The main symptom of thyroid cancer is the appearance of a lump or swelling, which is usually painless, in the front of your throat, just below your Adam’s apple. (Despite the name, women do have an Adam’s apple; it is just much smaller and less noticeable than in men.)
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer only tend to occur once the condition has reached an advanced stage. These symptoms may include:
- unexplained hoarseness
- difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing
- pain in your neck
- pain in your throat
When to seek medical advice
It is recommended that you should see your GP if you develop a swelling or lump in the front of your throat.
However, you should be aware that if you have a lump in front of your throat, it is unlikely to be the result of thyroid cancer. Only 1 in 20 cases of swellings or lumps in the throat that are large enough to be felt or seen are the result of thyroid cancer. Most cases are caused by non-cancerous swellings known as nodules – see box to the right.
