Are women more likely to have thyroid cancer?

Globally, women are roughly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. However, more recent data shows that women are often diagnosed with a less aggressive, relatively non-life-threatening form of thyroid cancer. When it comes to advanced thyroid cancer, the risks are the same for both men and women.

Thyroid cancer might not cause any symptoms at first. But as it grows, it can cause signs and symptoms, such as swelling in your neck; changes to your voice, such as increased hoarseness; neck and throat pain; and difficulty swallowing.

Most people with thyroid cancer that requires treatment will have surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid. Which operation your health care team might recommend depends on your type of thyroid cancer, the size of the cancer and whether it has spread beyond the thyroid to the lymph nodes. Your care team also considers your preferences when creating a treatment plan.

— MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK