Thyroid cancer
Key facts
- Thyroid cancer happens when cells in the thyroid gland grow in an abnormal way — this forms a tumour.
- Thyroid cancer can cause a lump in your neck, changes to your voice and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- You have a higher risk of thyroid cancer if you are female, have had exposure to radiation or have some thyroid and genetic conditions.
- Most cases of thyroid cancer are treatable — your doctor will diagnose you and suggest the best treatment for your type of thyroid cancer.
- There are different treatments for thyroid cancer including surgery and radioactive iodine treatment.
What is thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer happens when cells in your thyroid grow in an abnormal way. This means they divide out of control, forming a tumour.
Your thyroid gland is a small gland in the front of your neck. It is shaped like a bowtie. Your thyroid makes important hormones for your body.
Types of thyroid cancer
There are different types of thyroid cancer. They look and grow differently. They can be:
- papillary
- follicular
- medullary
- anaplastic
- Hürthle cell
Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer are the most common types of thyroid cancer. About 80% of thyroid cancers are the papillary type.
Medullary thyroid cancer is less common. It can run in families.
Anaplastic and Hürthle cell thyroid cancers are rare. Anaplastic thyroid cancer grows quickly.
Different types of thyroid cancer need different treatments.
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Common types of thyroid cancer often develop slowly. They may not cause you obvious symptoms.
When symptoms occur, they may include:
- a painless lump in the neck or throat
- swelling in the neck or swollen lymph nodes
- a hoarse voice
- a cough that doesn't go away
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
These symptoms don't definitely mean you have thyroid cancer — they can also be caused by other reasons. If you notice any symptoms, it's best to see your doctor as soon as possible.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes thyroid cancer?
Most thyroid cancers happen because of changes in your genetics. These are called mutations. Different types of thyroid cancer have different mutations.
There are some things that can increase your risk of getting thyroid cancer, like:
- being exposed to radiation
- some thyroid conditions
- obesity
- high or low iodine levels
- a family history of thyroid cancer
Females are more than twice as likely to develop thyroid cancer than males.
You can check your cancer risk with Cancer Australia's calculator.
When should I see my doctor?
If you have any symptoms of thyroid cancer, see your doctor.
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How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?
To diagnose thyroid cancer, your doctor will do a physical examination of your neck. They can also refer you to a specialist such as an endocrinologist and a surgeon.
You may need tests to diagnose thyroid cancer, like a:
You may also need a biopsy. A biopsy is when some cells are taken from the lump. The cells can be checked for cancer in a laboratory.
Staging thyroid cancer
If you have thyroid cancer, your doctor will stage your cancer. This will help them plan the best treatment for you.
Thyroid cancer is often categorised into stages according to the TNM (tumour-nodes-metastasis) staging system. This system looks at:
- the size of the cancer — T (tumour)
- if it has spread to your lymph nodes — N (nodes)
- if the cancer has spread to another body part of your body — M (metastasis)
When cancer spreads from one part of the body to another, this is called metastatic cancer.
Cancer that first appears in your thyroid is called primary thyroid cancer.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.
How is thyroid cancer treated?
Most cases of thyroid cancer are treatable.
The best treatment for your will depend on:
- what type of thyroid cancer you have
- the stage of your cancer
- your general health
- your age
- your preferences for treatment
You will often need a combination of treatments.
It is your choice to have treatment. Your doctor will work with you to plan your treatment. You can ask them any questions you may have.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer. Your surgeon may need to remove:
- your entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy)
- part of your thyroid gland (partial or hemi-thyroidectomy)
Sometimes they will also need to remove nearby lymph nodes.
Radioactive iodine treatment
Radioactive iodine is a type of medicine used to destroy any cancer remaining after surgery. It is taken up by cancer cells and then kills them without harming your other cells much.
Other treatments
Other treatments that can treat thyroid cancer include:
- chemotherapy
- targeted drug therapies
- radiotherapy
- immunotherapy
Active surveillance
Sometimes your cancer may not need treatment right away. If that's the case, starting treatment may cause more discomfort than your cancer does.
Your doctor may suggest active surveillance instead. This is when your health team monitors your cancer closely instead of treating it. They can do regular ultrasounds and physical examinations.
Your doctor may also offer active surveillance if you have had part of your thyroid removed.
You may choose to have active surveillance, for example, if you 're an older person.
Living with thyroid cancer
If you have thyroid cancer, you will usually need to see your doctor regularly throughout your life. Your doctor will monitor your cancer to see if it has spread. If you have received treatment, they will check that the cancer has not come back.
If you have surgery to remove your whole thyroid, you will need thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life. This makes sure your body gets the important hormones that are made by the thyroid.
Other hormones in your body can help cancer cells grow. Your thyroid hormones help keep these other hormone levels in a normal range. This way, thyroid hormone replacement therapy can also reduce the chance of thyroid cancer coming back.
Living with cancer can be difficult. This can affect your mental health — you may experience anxiety or depression. It is important to look after your mental health and get help if you need it — speak to your doctor.
You can support your mental health by:
- using relaxation techniques such as yoga
- practicing mindfulness
- spending time with loved ones
Your doctor can also connect you with a support group.
What are the complications of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer can affect your breathing. Cancer can be life-threatening.
Treatments for thyroid cancer can also have complications.
Complications of surgery
After having surgery to remove thyroid cancer, it can be painful to swallow food for a few days. Surgery can also cause changes to your voice. This usually improves over time.
The parathyroid glands are found behind your thyroid. If the surgery affects your parathyroid glands, you may have a chance of low calcium levels. This can cause:
- headaches
- tingling in your hands and feet
- muscle cramps
You may need calcium replacement therapy. You should ask your doctor before taking any supplements.
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation.
Complications of radioactive iodine treatment
If you have radioactive iodine therapy, you and your bodily fluids will be radioactive for a few days. This usually means you will stay in hospital for a few days until the radiation has dropped to a safe level. Your healthcare team can answer any questions you have.
Radioactive iodine treatment can affect your fertility for about 6 months after treatment. If you have any concerns you can speak to your doctor.
Complications of other treatments
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause side effects like:
Resources and support
For more information about thyroid cancer, you can visit the:
- Cancer Australia website for a detailed booklet all about thyroid cancer — you can also call their support line on 13 11 20.
- Rare Cancers Australia website for information about thyroid cancer — you can also call their patient support line on 1800 257 600.
- Head and Neck Cancer Australia website for information about thyroid cancer — you can also call their helpline on 1300 424 848.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Cancer Council NSW provides information all about cancer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Mental health
If you have thyroid cancer, mental health support is available.
You can call:
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 for advice and to connect with local mental health services — check their operating times
You can find support groups near you on the:
You can also read about Mental health resources.
Languages other than English
If you speak a language other than English, there are resources available.
General information from Cancer Institute NSW about cancer is available online in many community languages.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia has a video in English and other languages on what to expect after having head and neck cancer treatment.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: October 2025
