Early thyroid cancer often does not cause symptoms. But as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• A lump, or nodule, in the front of the neck near the Adam's apple;
• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking in a normal voice;
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck;
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing; or
• Pain in the throat or neck.

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These symptoms are not sure signs of thyroid cancer. An infection, a benign goitre, or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible. Only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.

If a person has symptoms that suggest thyroid cancer, the doctor may perform a physical exam and ask about the patient's personal and family medical history. The doctor also may order laboratory tests and imaging tests to produce pictures of the thyroid and other areas.

Treatment options
The doctor may refer patients to doctors (oncologists) who specialise in treating cancer, or patients may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat thyroid cancer include surgeons, endocrinologists (some of whom are called thyroidologists because they specialise in thyroid diseases), medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.

Treatment generally begins within a few weeks after the diagnosis. There will be time for patients to talk with the doctor about treatment choices, get a second opinion, and learn more about thyroid cancer.

What Bojé might be going through
Patients who have their thyroids removed are often uncomfortable for the first few days after surgery. However, medicine can usually control their pain. It is also common for patients to feel tired or weak. The length of time it takes to recover from an operation varies for each patient.

After surgery to remove the thyroid and nearby tissues or organs, such as the parathyroid glands, patients may need to take medicine (thyroid hormone) or vitamin and mineral supplements (vitamin D and calcium) to replace the lost functions of these organs. In a few cases, certain nerves or muscles may be damaged or removed during surgery. If this happens, a patient may have voice problems or one shoulder may be lower than the other.

- Information supplied by the US National Institutes of Health
 

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