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Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer develops when cells grow and divide abnormally in the thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck.

Last modified: January 7, 2022

Quick facts about thyroid cancerQuick facts

In 2021, it’s estimated that 3,830 Australians were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This makes thyroid cancer the 9^th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia
Thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men. In 2021, women were two and half times more likely to develop thyroid cancer
The five-year survival rate for thyroid cancer is 97%
Thyroid cancer primarily develops from two types of cells: follicular cells (which produce and store the hormones T3 and T4 and the protein thyroglobulin) and parafollicular cells (which produce the hormone calcitonin and help control calcium levels in the body)

Types of thyroid cancerTypes of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is classified based on the appearance of its cancerous cells. It is possible to have multiple types of thyroid cancer, however this is rare.

The types of thyroid cancer include:

Papillary thyroid cancer

Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, making up 70-80% of all cases. It develops from the follicular cells and tends to grow slowly to areas such as surrounding lymph nodes.

Follicular thyroid cancer

Follicular thyroid cancer makes up 15-25% of thyroid cancer cases and develops from follicular cells. Although it is unlikely to spread to the lymph nodes, it can spread to other parts of the body. Hürthle cell carcinoma is a rare and more aggressive type of follicular thyroid cancer.

Medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer develops from the parafollicular cells (C-cells) and makes up 4% of all thyroid cancer cases. It can be passed down through families (hereditary thyroid cancer).

Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare and fast-growing type of thyroid cancer, which develops from papillary or follicular thyroid cancer.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancerSigns and symptoms

As signs and symptoms for thyroid cancer can be similar to other common conditions, it’s important to see your GP or healthcare professional if you experience any of the symptoms below. Discussing anything concerning with your doctor as soon as possible can help give you peace of mind and offer the best chance of successful treatment if you receive a thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Symptoms for thyroid cancer tend to develop slowly and may include:

Lump in the neck or throat that grows over time
Pain in the neck or throat
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
Hoarseness or changes in your voice
Swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your neck

Stages of thyroid cancerStages

The TNM system is used to stage thyroid cancer and helps doctors understand what your cancer looks like. The TNM stands for:

Tumour – Describes the size of the tumour and if it has affected other tissue, such as the neck
Node – Is a measure of whether lymph nodes have been affected
Metastasis – The degree to which the cancer has spread to other organs of the body, such as the lungs or bones

The TNM information, along with other tests, helps determine the stage of your thyroid cancer using the guidelines below:

Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer

Only Stage I and Stage II apply to those under 55 years of age.

Stage I

The cancer is no larger than 4 cm and confined to the thyroid. For those under 55, the cancer may be any size and might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage II

The cancer is no larger than 4 cm across and confined to the thyroid, but has spread to nearby lymph nodes. For those under 55, the cancer may be any size and has spread to other areas of the body such as distant lymph nodes, internal organs or bone.

Stage III

The cancer may be any size and has spread to nearby tissue such as the larynx, trachea or oesophagus. It might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IVA

The cancer may be any size and has spread extensively beyond the thyroid toward the spine or into nearby large blood vessels. It might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IVB

The cancer is any size and might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but has spread to distant areas of the body such as lymph nodes, internal organs or bones.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer

All anaplastic thyroid cancers are considered Stage IV.

Stage IVA

The cancer is any size and confined to the thyroid.

Stage IVB

The cancer is any size and confined to the thyroid, but has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Alternatively, the cancer is any size and has grown into the strap muscles around the thyroid, but might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IVC

The cancer is any size and might or not have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but has spread to distant areas of the body such as lymph nodes, internal organs or bone.