Everything you need to know about thyroid cancer — from symptoms and staging to treatment options and life after diagnosis — explained clearly by Dr. Aditya Sarin.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every case of thyroid cancer is different. Please consult Dr Aditya Sarin or a qualified oncologist for evaluation, diagnosis and a treatment plan specific to your condition.
98%
Overall 5-year survival rate
80%
Are papillary thyroid cancer
2–3x
More common in women
Often
Found on ultrasound or exam
Any new lump in the neck is worth having checked. Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Aditya Sarin today.
Section 01
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones controlling metabolism, heart rate, and energy levels. Most thyroid cancers grow slowly and respond very well to treatment, which is a major reason this cancer carries one of the best overall survival rates of any cancer type.
Thyroid cancer is more common in women than men, and it often shows up as a lump or nodule in the neck. Many thyroid nodules are entirely benign, so a nodule alone doesn't mean cancer. Still, any new lump in the neck is worth having checked.
Section 02
Types of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is not a single disease. The specific type has a major effect on how it's treated and what to expect afterwards. Dr. Aditya Sarin evaluates each case individually to confirm the precise diagnosis before deciding on treatment.
~80% of Cases
Papillary Thyroid Cancer
The most common type. Usually slow-growing and highly treatable, even when it has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
2nd Most Common
Follicular Thyroid Cancer
Slightly more likely than papillary cancer to spread through the bloodstream, but still generally well treated.
~25% Hereditary
Medullary Thyroid Cancer
A less common type that develops from different cells. Roughly a quarter of cases are hereditary, linked to the RET gene.
Rare · Aggressive
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
A rare, aggressive, fast-growing type that behaves very differently and needs urgent, multidisciplinary treatment.
Less Common
Oncocytic (Hurthle Cell) Carcinoma
A less common subtype that can be harder to diagnose and treat than typical papillary or follicular cancer.
Section 03
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Early thyroid cancer often causes no symptoms and is frequently found during a routine physical exam or on imaging done for something else entirely.
A lump or swelling in the front of the neck
Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck
Hoarseness or voice changes that don't resolve
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Pain in the neck or throat that doesn't go away
A persistent cough not related to a cold
Note: Most thyroid nodules turn out to be benign, but any new lump, or a change in an existing one, should be evaluated properly rather than watched and hoped away.
Section 04
Causes & Risk Factors
The exact cause of thyroid cancer isn't fully understood, but a handful of factors are known to raise risk.
Radiation Exposure
Exposure to radiation, especially to the head or neck during childhood, is one of the clearest known risk factors.
Family History & Genetic Syndromes
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 significantly raises the risk of medullary thyroid cancer.
Female
Thyroid cancer is diagnosed two to three times more often in women than men.
Age
Risk rises somewhat with age, and disease can behave differently depending on whether someone is above or below 55.
Iodine Levels
Both very low and very high iodine intake have been linked to changes in thyroid cancer risk and subtype.
Having a risk factor doesn't mean someone will develop thyroid cancer, and plenty of people diagnosed have no identifiable risk factor at all.
Section 05
Thyroid Cancer Screening & Early Detection
There's no routine population-wide screening test for thyroid cancer in people without symptoms or known risk factors. Most cases are found through a physical exam, an incidental finding on imaging, or evaluation of a noticed lump.
Neck Examination
A doctor feels the thyroid for nodules or lumps during a routine physical exam.
Thyroid Ultrasound
The main imaging test used to characterise a thyroid nodule and decide whether a biopsy is needed.
Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy
A thin needle samples cells from a nodule — the most reliable way to tell benign from cancerous nodules.
Genetic Testing
Recommended for families with a history of medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia.
Thyroid cancer detection rates have risen sharply in several countries, largely because ultrasound has gotten so much better at finding very small nodules. Some of that rise reflects genuinely earlier detection, and some reflects finding small, slow-growing cancers that may never have caused a problem — an active area of medical debate.
Section 06
Staging of Thyroid Cancer
Staging describes how far the cancer has spread and directly shapes treatment. Thyroid cancer is staged using the AJCC TNM system, but with an unusual twist: for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, the stage assigned depends partly on the patient's age at diagnosis, since younger patients tend to do so much better even with more extensive disease. This staging guidance is current as of 2026.
Stage
What it means
Stage I
Any tumour size, with or without lymph node spread, in patients under 55. In patients 55+, a smaller tumour confined to the thyroid.
Stage II
Any tumour size with distant spread in patients under 55. In patients 55+, a larger tumour or lymph node involvement.
Stage III
Applies only to patients 55 and older, where cancer has grown beyond the thyroid into nearby structures.
Stage IV
Applies only to patients 55 and older, where cancer has spread to distant organs.
Medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer are staged separately from this age-based system, since they behave quite differently from papillary and follicular disease.
Survival statistics are population averages. They describe outcomes across large groups of patients and don't predict what will happen to any individual patient.
Thyroid cancer in India
India has one of the lowest average thyroid cancer incidence rates in the world, though rates have been rising in some regions, most notably Kerala, where diagnoses have roughly doubled over the past decade. A large part of that increase is attributed to wider access to ultrasound rather than a true rise in aggressive disease, since the proportion of very small, low-risk papillary microcarcinomas has risen alongside it. Cancer-specific survival for these small papillary microcarcinomas is close to 100% in published studies.
Treatment depends heavily on the specific type and stage. Dr. Aditya Sarin develops a comprehensive, personalised treatment plan for every patient.
Thyroidectomy
Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland, the primary treatment for most thyroid cancers.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy
Used after surgery for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or microscopic cancer cells.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
Lifelong hormone replacement after thyroidectomy, which also helps suppress TSH.
Active Surveillance
For very small, low-risk papillary microcarcinomas, close monitoring without immediate surgery is now a reasonable option.
Targeted Therapy
Drugs aimed at specific genetic changes, such as RET mutations or fusions, for advanced or radioactive iodine-resistant disease.
Chemotherapy & Radiation
Used far less often than in most other cancers, but central to treating anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Section 09
Latest Advances in Thyroid Cancer Treatment
The most meaningful recent shift in thyroid cancer treatment has been the rise of RET-targeted therapy, which is now the established standard for a genetically defined subset of patients rather than an emerging option.
1
FDA Full Approval · September 27, 2024 · RET-Altered
Targeted therapy for RET-altered thyroid cancer
Selpercatinib received full FDA approval on September 27, 2024, for advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer with a RET mutation, and separately for RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer that no longer responds to radioactive iodine. In the supporting LIBRETTO-531 trial, selpercatinib cut the risk of disease progression or death by 72% compared with older standard drugs. RET mutations show up in more than half of medullary thyroid cancers, and RET fusions appear in roughly 10 to 20% of papillary thyroid cancers.
Whether targeted therapy applies to a given patient depends on RET mutation or fusion status, prior treatment, and how the disease has responded so far, and should be discussed directly with an oncologist.
Section 10
Living with Thyroid Cancer
Life after thyroidectomy usually means lifelong thyroid hormone medication, which most patients adjust to well, along with a few practical things worth staying on top of.
Thyroid Hormone Monitoring
Regular blood tests to keep hormone levels in the right range.
Voice & Swallowing Care
Some patients notice temporary voice changes after surgery, and rarely, longer-term changes that benefit from speech therapy.
Counselling & Support Groups
Emotional support and peer groups for patients navigating diagnosis, surgery, and lifelong hormone therapy.
Section 11
Why Early Detection Matters
Most thyroid cancer is genuinely good news as far as cancer diagnoses go. But that doesn't mean a lump should be ignored. It means it should be checked properly, so we can tell the difference between something that needs treatment and something that just needs watching.
— Dr. Aditya Sarin, Medical Oncologist
Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type, has a survival rate near 100% for stages I through III.
Any new or growing lump in the neck warrants a proper evaluation, even though most nodules are benign.
Persistent hoarseness or difficulty swallowing that doesn't resolve on its own is worth mentioning to a doctor.
Families with a history of medullary thyroid cancer should ask about genetic counselling and RET testing.
Not every small nodule needs immediate surgery. Ask your doctor whether active surveillance is reasonable for your case.
Section 12
Frequently Asked Questions about Thyroid Cancer
What is the first sign of thyroid cancer?
A lump or swelling in the front of the neck is the most common first sign, though many cases are found incidentally on imaging before any symptom appears at all.
Can thyroid cancer be cured?
Most thyroid cancer, particularly papillary and follicular types, is highly treatable and often curable with surgery and, when needed, radioactive iodine. Medullary and especially anaplastic thyroid cancer are more challenging and carry a less favourable prognosis.
Is every thyroid nodule cancer?
No. Most thyroid nodules are benign. A fine-needle biopsy is the most reliable way to tell benign nodules from cancerous ones, and not every nodule needs one.
Why has thyroid cancer diagnosis increased so much in recent years?
A large part of the rise is linked to more widespread and sensitive ultrasound imaging, which finds small nodules that would previously have gone unnoticed. This has led to real debate in medicine about overdiagnosis, worth discussing with your doctor if a very small, low-risk nodule is found.
Is thyroid cancer hereditary?
Most thyroid cancer isn't inherited, but medullary thyroid cancer is hereditary in roughly a quarter of cases, linked to RET gene mutations and conditions like Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2.
Will I need to take medication for life after thyroid surgery?
If the entire thyroid is removed, yes. Thyroid hormone replacement is needed for life, and most people adjust well once the right dose is found.
What is the best treatment approach for Thyroid Cancer in Delhi?
Effective thyroid cancer treatment in Delhi starts with accurate diagnosis through ultrasound and biopsy, followed by a treatment plan matched to the specific type and, for advanced cases, genetic testing for RET alterations. Dr. Aditya Sarin, ESMO board-certified and trained in precision oncology, offers this kind of biomarker-informed, personalised approach for thyroid cancer patients in Delhi.
Section 13 · Why Dr. Aditya Sarin
Why Trust Dr. Aditya Sarin for Thyroid Cancer Care?
ESMO Board Certified · Harvard Trained · Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
Experienced Thyroid Cancer Specialist
ESMO Board Certified oncologist with advanced training in precision oncology and cancer genomics from Harvard Medical School.
Advanced Treatment Options
Access to RET-targeted therapy, radioactive iodine planning, and personalised treatment protocols.
High-quality oncology care with insurance assistance, flexible appointment options, and both in-person and remote consultations.
Mon – Sat (Morning) 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mon – Sat (Evening) 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Early Detection Saves Lives
A neck lump is easy to notice and easy to check. Don't let it sit unexamined for months. If you've noticed a lump in your neck, persistent hoarseness, or simply want expert guidance on a thyroid nodule found incidentally, speak with Dr. Aditya Sarin — a trusted thyroid cancer specialist in New Delhi.
