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Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors and Symptoms

The vast majority of thyroid cancers are very treatable and curable. Recognizing the risk factors and symptoms for thyroid cancer is important in order to detect the disease early.

What is Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid, a gland located at the front of the neck, just below the voice box (larynx). It is shaped like a butterfly, with lobes on either side of the neck.

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, which controls the release of important chemicals and hormones to the body. It regulates growth in children and helps regulate metabolism in adults.

Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer

What causes thyroid cancer is yet to be discovered. While thyroid cancer causes are not exactly known, there are several risk factors to be aware of. Some of these risk factors cannot be changed while others can.

Thyroid cancer risk factors include:

  • Hereditary risk. People are more at risk of thyroid cancer if a close relative was also diagnosed with it.
  • Sex. Women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer than men.
  • Age. The older a person is, the greater their risk of developing thyroid cancer.
  • Exposure to radiation. Experts believe that radiation exposure to the neck area, especially at an early age, could be a potential thyroid cancer cause. Causes of this exposure include certain medical treatments and fallout from nuclear power plant accidents. While rare, it is a proven risk for thyroid cancer.
  • Being overweight or obese. Thyroid cancer risk increases when a person’s body mass index (BMI) increases.

Several inherited genetic conditions have also been linked to thyroid cancer. These are rare, however, and the majority of people who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer do not have any family history of the disease:

  • Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC): About 2 in 10 people with thyroid cancer have MTC due to an abnormal gene they inherit.
  • Familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma: Some families carry genes that predispose them to thyroid cancer more often and at earlier stages in life. Papillary thyroid cancer is one of them.
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP): This genetic syndrome is caused by defects in the APC gene.
  • Cowden disease: In this genetic disorder, people often have benign growths and tumors in the thyroid as well as other areas in the body. People with this disease tend to be at an increased risk of papillary or follicular thyroid cancers.
  • Carney complex, type I: This syndrome increases a person’s risk of hormone problems and benign tumors. They are at an increased risk of papillary and follicular thyroid cancers.

While thyroid cancer cannot be prevented, genetic tests can be performed to see whether you carry any genes that might increase your risk.

Signs of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer symptoms can often be mistaken for another illness or condition. It is important not to let these symptoms go on for too long without getting them checked out by a doctor.

What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? They can include:

  • Swelling of the thyroid gland
  • Swelling on or around the neck
  • A lump on the side of the neck
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • A sudden change or hoarseness in the voice

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms, talk with a doctor. It is important to get these signs and symptoms checked out before they become worse.