When should I call my care team?

Trouble breathing, or noisy breathing, especially after surgery; Fast swelling in the neck after surgery; Tingling around the mouth or in the hands, muscle cramps, or spasms; Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or redness or pus at your cut; Trouble swallowing or choking; A neck lump that grows quickly; Very high blood pressure, or a bad headache, on targeted pills; Severe diarrhea or being unable to keep fluids down; Coughing up blood, or black or bloody stools; Chest pain, fainting, or a racing or skipping heartbeat; If it feels very bad, call 911.

Thyroid cancer

Most thyroid cancers are very treatable, and many people go on to live full, normal lives.

Hi, I'm Rosa. Today we'll go through thyroid cancer together, one step at a time. I'll keep it simple, and you can pause me, go back, or skip ahead whenever you like. Just so you know, this is for learning only. It is not medical advice, so please check everything with your own doctor and care team. Okay, let's get started.

What thyroid cancer is

Let's start with the basics. The thyroid is a small gland at the front of your neck. It is shaped like a butterfly. It makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid cancer starts when cells in this gland grow out of control. It often shows up as a lump in the neck. Most thyroid lumps are not cancer. The most common types grow slowly and are very treatable. Your care team will explain what this means for you.

The main types

Let's talk briefly about the types. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common. It usually grows slowly. Follicular thyroid cancer is second most common. It also usually grows slowly. Oncocytic carcinoma is a less common type related to follicular cancer. Medullary thyroid cancer starts in different cells. Sometimes it runs in families. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is rare and grows very fast. It needs care right away. Poorly differentiated cancer is in between. Your care team will tell you which type you have.

Tests you may have

Now let's talk about tests. A neck ultrasound uses sound waves to make pictures. It shows the size of a lump. A thin needle biopsy takes cells from the lump. It is the best test to find out if it is cancer. If the result is unclear, the cells can get gene tests. Blood tests check your thyroid and some cancer markers. A radioactive iodine scan shows where iodine goes in your body. Other scans check if cancer has spread. A small camera may check your vocal cords.

What the stage means

Next up, let's talk about stages. The stage tells how big the cancer is. It also tells how far it has spread. For thyroid cancer, your age matters too. Why do doctors use stages? They help your care team plan treatment. They also help everyone talk the same language. Doctors also use a risk level. It tells how likely the cancer is to come back. It helps decide how much treatment you need. Your doctor will explain what your stage means for you.

Markers and gene tests

Before we move to treatment, there are some things to know. Blood markers help your team watch for cancer after treatment. Gene tests on the tumor matter most for advanced cancer. There are different markers. Each one has a different role for different types. Some gene changes are inherited. Then your family can be tested too. Your doctor will tell you which markers you have. They will also explain what they mean. You can read more in the guide. The Questions to ask page can help too.

Main treatment options

Now let's look at treatment. Surgery may remove half of the thyroid. Or it may remove the whole thyroid. Lymph nodes in the neck may be removed too. Radioactive iodine is a pill or liquid that destroys thyroid cells. Many low risk people do not need it. A daily thyroid hormone pill replaces what your thyroid made. Some very small cancers can be watched closely instead. Targeted pills help some advanced cancers. Clinical trials are research studies that may offer new options. Ask your care team.

Side effects and what helps

Let's talk about side effects. Surgery can make your voice hoarse. Most voice changes get better over time. Calcium can drop after surgery. Tingling in the lips or fingers can be a sign. It can take time to find the right hormone dose. Take your pill at the same time each day. Radioactive iodine can cause a dry mouth. Drinking plenty of water helps. Some pills can raise blood pressure. We have a whole side effects guide on this site.

Living well with it

Last, let's talk about living well. Most people with thyroid cancer do very well. You will have regular checkups, blood tests, and neck ultrasounds. If your whole thyroid was removed, take your hormone pill every day. Do not skip doses. Some people call this the good cancer. That can feel unfair. Your feelings are real, and support can help. Call right away for trouble breathing or fast neck swelling after surgery. Also call for tingling around the mouth or muscle cramps. If it feels very bad, call 911. Also see our new Screening, prevention and survivorship section.

You did great today. That was a lot, and you took it one step at a time. Write down your questions and bring them to your next visit. Call your care team any time something worries you. You are not alone in this.

Call your care team right away if you have

Trouble breathing, or noisy breathing, especially after surgery
Fast swelling in the neck after surgery
Tingling around the mouth or in the hands, muscle cramps, or spasms
Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or redness or pus at your cut
Trouble swallowing or choking
A neck lump that grows quickly
Very high blood pressure, or a bad headache, on targeted pills
Severe diarrhea or being unable to keep fluids down
Coughing up blood, or black or bloody stools
Chest pain, fainting, or a racing or skipping heartbeat
If it feels very bad, call 911.

Side effects: what helps

Sources

Quick answers

What is thyroid cancer?: The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid cancer starts when cells in this gland grow out of control. It often shows up as a lump (nodule) in the neck. Many lumps are found by chance on a scan done for another reason. Most thyroid nodules are not cancer.
When should I call my care team?: Trouble breathing, or noisy breathing, especially after surgery; Fast swelling in the neck after surgery; Tingling around the mouth or in the hands, muscle cramps, or spasms; Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or redness or pus at your cut; Trouble swallowing or choking; A neck lump that grows quickly; Very high blood pressure, or a bad headache, on targeted pills; Severe diarrhea or being unable to keep fluids down; Coughing up blood, or black or bloody stools; Chest pain, fainting, or a racing or skipping heartbeat; If it feels very bad, call 911.

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.