Signs of Thyroid Cancer: Persistent cough, noticeable lumps, and additional symptoms to watch for
In the human body, the thyroid gland, located in the neck, plays a crucial role in hormone production. However, when a tumor develops in the thyroid, it can lead to various health issues. Here's a guide to understanding the common symptoms of thyroid cancer and how they differ from benign thyroid conditions.
Thyroid cancer often presents with a painless, progressively enlarging neck mass, causing local compressive symptoms and potential lymph node involvement. Some other symptoms include persistent hoarseness or voice changes, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, ongoing cough not linked to infections, localized neck pain that may radiate to ears or jaw, and swollen lymph nodes indicating possible spread.
In contrast, benign thyroid conditions like goiter and subacute thyroiditis usually have symptoms related to inflammation or thyroid hormone dysfunction rather than malignancy-specific signs. Goiter, an enlarged thyroid, may cause visible neck swelling and compressive symptoms, but it is often painless and linked with thyroid hormone imbalance (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism). Subacute thyroiditis presents with severe neck pain, high fever, and tenderness over the thyroid, following viral infections and involving inflammatory thyroid swelling.
The key distinguishing features between thyroid cancer and benign conditions are summarized in the table below:
| Symptom/Feature | Thyroid Cancer | Goiter | Subacute Thyroiditis | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Neck lump/nodule | Progressively enlarging, painless | Visible swelling, non-painful or mildly uncomfortable | Swelling with tenderness and severe pain | | Neck pain | Possible and can radiate to jaw/ear | Usually absent or mild | Severe, sharp, may shift sides | | Voice changes | Common (hoarseness, voice fatigue) | Rare | Rare | | Swollen lymph nodes | Common if cancer spreads | Not typical | Not typical | | Fever | Absent | Absent | Common | | Cough | Persistent, non-infectious | Rare | Rare | | Systemic thyroid symptoms | Less common unless cancer affects hormone levels | May occur (hyper- or hypothyroid) | Yes, distinct phases of hyper- and hypothyroidism | | Onset | Gradual | Variable | Acute, post-viral |
Prompt medical evaluation, including imaging and biopsy, is necessary to differentiate these conditions accurately. It's essential for individuals experiencing any of these symptoms to discuss their individual outlook with a doctor.
Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type, may develop for some time before a person notices symptoms such as a lump. Other types of thyroid cancer, like medullary thyroid cancer, which accounts for around 4% of cases, often spread to other areas of the body before doctors diagnose it.
Difficulty swallowing, caused by a growing tumor in the thyroid gland, can lead to various issues such as bringing food back up, choking or coughing when drinking or eating, a feeling of food becoming stuck in the throat or chest, drooling, weight loss, and chest infections.
It's important to note that there are other possible causes of dysphagia, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal or mouth cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), dementia, stroke, goiter, and certain medications.
Approximately 9 in 10 people survive for at least 5 years from the time of their thyroid cancer diagnosis, with most having a typical lifespan. A thorough understanding of the symptoms and early detection can significantly improve the prognosis for those diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
