What are the main symptoms of thyroid cancer

The main symptoms of thyroid cancer include neck lumps, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and neck pain. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to get an early diagnosis. Thyroid cancer may not have obvious symptoms in the early stages, so regular physical examinations are also very important.

1. Neck Lump

The most common early symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump in the front of the neck. The lump is usually hard, irregular in surface, and occasionally increases in size over time. If the lump is accompanied by tenderness or local lymphadenopathy, be vigilant. It is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible for a neck ultrasound examination, combined with a puncture biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Hoarseness

If the tumor continues to grow, it will compress or invade the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing hoarseness. If hoarseness persists for more than two weeks, especially without a clear cause, you should seek medical attention immediately. Laryngoscopy, CT scan and other examinations may be needed to assist in diagnosis.

3. Difficulty swallowing or breathing

If the tumor spreads to the esophagus or trachea, it may cause discomfort when swallowing or respiratory obstruction. This symptom usually occurs in the middle or late stages of the disease and is an obvious danger signal. It is recommended to seek medical attention quickly, and imaging tests such as CT and MRI may be needed to confirm the situation.

4Neck pain or swollen lymph nodes

Some patients may experience neck or ear pain, which may be caused by cancer cells invading surrounding tissues; or abnormal lymph node enlargement in the neck. Doctors usually combine the patient's medical history and neck ultrasound to determine the cause of such manifestations.

5 Systemic symptoms

If thyroid cancer develops to an advanced stage, it may cause systemic symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss. Although these symptoms are not specific enough, they still need to be vigilant, especially when they exist together with other neck symptoms.

If you find yourself with the above symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and have a professional doctor evaluate and diagnose you. Thyroid cancer is more effective when it is discovered and treated early. Patients need to pay attention to physical examinations and self-care to avoid delaying the best time for treatment.