Thyroid Cancer

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer
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Signs and Symptoms

Early stages of thyroid cancer may not produce noticeable symptoms. Symptoms that may indicate a benign thyroid nodule, thyroid enlargement (goiter), thyroid cancer, or other cancer of the neck include the following:

• Breathing difficulties
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lump in the neck (may be fast growing or hard)
• Pain in the throat or neck that may extend to the ears
• Persistent cough, without a cold or other illness
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Voice change (e.g., hoarseness) that persists

In addition to these symptoms, several complications can result from a thyroid nodule. For example, a thyroid nodule may produce excessive levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), causing symptoms such as nervousness, weight loss, and a rapid heartbeat. Diarrhea may also occur due to the hormones that are secreted by medullary thyroid cancer cells.

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