The thyroid cancer nurse specialist team provides support to each individual from diagnosis onwards.
Telephone 0113 2067724.
The Thyroid Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) diagnoses, treats and supports those who have thyroid cancer.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump in the front of the neck. But thyroid cancer tends to develop slowly and there may not be any symptoms at all.
Neck lump
Thyroid cancer often causes a painless lump or swelling low down in the front of the neck.
However, neck lumps are common and are usually caused by a less serious condition, such as an enlarged thyroid (goitre). Only around 1 in every 20 is cancer.
A neck lump is more likely to be cancer if it:
- Feels firm
- Doesn’t move around easily under the skin
- Gets bigger over time
See your GP if you have a swelling or lump at the front of your neck. While it’s unlikely to be cancer, it’s important to get it checked out.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Unexplained hoarseness that doesn’t get better after a few weeks
- A sore throat that doesn’t get better
- Pain in your neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Breathing difficulties
Rarely, thyroid cancer can affect the production of thyroid hormones and cause diarrhoea and flushing.
These problems can have causes other than cancer, but it’s a good idea to see your GP if you develop any persistent symptoms that you’re worried about.
Diagnostic tests
There are a number of tests that can be recommended to diagnose Penile cancer and include:
- Ultrasound scan
- Thyroid biopsy – this is a procedure where a sample of the cancer is taken with a biopsy
- Vocal cord check – this is when a thin, flexible tube with a small camera at the end is passed through the nose to look at how the vocal cords move.
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- PET Scan