The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the lower front of the neck and is responsible for controlling the metabolism. It releases the hormones that direct functions in the body, including how the body produces heat, uses energy, and how it consumes oxygen. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells mutate and change, becoming abnormal. These dangerous cells multiply in the thyroid and can form a tumor.

Doctors and researchers have identified four main types of thyroid cancer and they include papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Many times there will be very few symptoms of thyroid cancer. One of the most common is a nodule on the thyroid gland. Other symptoms may include:

• Issues swallowing

• Hoarse voice

• Swollen lymph nodes typically within the neck

• Neck pain, sometimes also comes with ear pain

• Constant wheezing and/or difficulty breathing

• Hot flashes

• Consent coughing that isn’t cold related

Below we will look at the four main kinds of thyroid cancer:

1. Papillary carcinoma

This is the most common type of thyroid cancer and it accounts for about 80% of all cases. This type is slow growing and can be found on one or both of the thyroid gland lobes. Papillary carcinoma can spread to any of the lymph nodes nearby on the neck. It is the most treatable of the thyroid cancers and typically has a high survival rate.

2. Follicular carcinoma

This type of thyroid cancer accounts for about 1 in every 10 cases and is the second most common. This type of thyroid cancer is found most often in countries that lack decent amounts of iodine in their diets. Follicular carcinoma has shown to be more aggressive than papillary carcinoma and does not typically spread to lymph nodes that are close by. It is, however, more common for it to spread to other organs in the body, such as bones and lungs.

3. Hürthle cell carcinoma

This type of thyroid cancer is also called oxyphil cell carcinoma. It is a subcategory of oxyphil cell carcinoma. This is the third most common type of thyroid cancer and is diagnosed in about 3% of all cases.

4. Medullary thyroid carcinoma

This type of thyroid cancer will develop in the thyroid gland from C cells and is much more aggressive and less segregated than follicular or papillary thyroid cancers. This type accounts for about 3-4% of all diagnosed cases. This type can be detected by a simple blood test as they released very high levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin. It also is more aggressive in spreading and is often found to have spread to other organs as well as to the lymph nodes.

5. Anaplastic carcinoma

This type of thyroid cancer is the most undifferentiated, which means that it looks very different from other normal cells found in the thyroid gland. Anaplastic carcinoma is the most aggressive of all thyroid cancers and will spread quickly throughout the body, even to other parts of the neck. Anaplastic carcinoma accounts for only 2% of all cases of thyroid cancer.

Overall, thyroid cancer has a good outlook for treatment and recovery. The types of treatments available have come a long way.