Early symptoms and signs of thyroid cancer

The early symptoms and precursors of thyroid cancer mainly include lumps in the thyroid area, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, etc. Early detection is crucial, and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible for such symptoms. The following will explain in detail the possible symptoms and related coping methods.

1Thyroid lumps or nodules

The earliest sign of thyroid cancer may be a lump in the front of the neck, especially a hard, irregular nodule that gradually grows. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but hard and fast-growing nodules need to be taken seriously. If such a lump is found, it is recommended to complete an ultrasound examination and thyroid function test. Further, a fine needle aspiration biopsy can be selected to clarify the nature.

2Hoarseness or difficulty speaking

Thyroid cancer may compress or invade the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing hoarseness or difficulty speaking. If hoarseness persists for more than 2 weeks, you should pay special attention and go to the ENT department for a laryngoscopy to determine whether there is nerve damage.

3Difficulty swallowing or breathing

If the mass compresses the esophagus or trachea, it may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This situation indicates that the tumor may be large and has obvious compression symptoms, and you should immediately see a doctor for relevant imaging examinations, such as neck CT or MRI.

4Swelling of cervical lymph nodes

Thyroid cancer, especially papillary cancer, may cause cervical lymph node enlargement in the early stage. Lymph nodes that are hard and less mobile may indicate metastasis. If abnormalities are found, a puncture biopsy can be performed to determine whether they are metastatic lymph nodes.

5Other symptoms

Systemic manifestations such as fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever are relatively rare, but if they occur together, a comprehensive analysis of the possible systemic effects of thyroid cancer is also required.

The key to early detection of thyroid cancer is to be alert to changes in symptoms, have regular physical examinations and thyroid ultrasound screening. For people with a family history or other high-risk factors such as long-term exposure to radiation, they need to pay more attention to the above symptoms. Once abnormalities are found, they need to see a doctor in time for complete examinations. Early treatment includes surgical resection such as total or partial thyroidectomy and supplemented with radioactive iodine treatment based on pathological results.

Although the early symptoms of thyroid cancer are not specific, any abnormal signals should be highly vigilant. Developing a healthy habit of regular check-ups and early intervention when abnormalities occur are the key to dealing with thyroid cancer.