Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer arising in the thyroid gland at the base of the neck. Thyroid cancer symptoms in females may include swelling, painless lumps, and difficulty swallowing. However, thyroid cancer is often asymptomatic.
Many people
Thyroid cancer is more
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates around
This article explains what thyroid cancer symptoms look like, particularly in females. It also details when to contact a doctor and the outlook.

There are four types of thyroid cancer. Of these four types, papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma are most common in females.
However, medullary thyroid carcinoma usually runs in families, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is more common in people over 60.
During the early stages of the disease, thyroid cancer may cause minimal or no symptoms.
However, it commonly causes a painless lump or swelling at the lower front of the neck, below the Adam’s apple.
Once the disease has reached a more advanced stage, a person may experience the following:
- unexplained hoarseness that does not improve after a few weeks
- a sore throat
- pain in the neck
- difficulty swallowing that does not get better
- difficulty breathing
- swollen glands in the neck
In rare cases, thyroid cancer can affect thyroid hormone production, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing.
In particular,
Thyroid cancer symptoms tend to be the same for both sexes.
A study from
Conversely, the researchers found that the occurrence of aggressive and often fatal types of thyroid cancer was almost equal in males and females.
Additionally, they found no significant difference between the sexes in relation to small papillary thyroid cancers discovered during autopsies, which doctors had not detected during the person’s life.
The researchers noted that females are more likely to seek medical care than males and more likely to undergo testing for undefined health issues causing symptoms like fatigue and menstrual disturbance.
People
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower part of the throat, near the trachea or windpipe. A healthy thyroid is slightly bigger than a quarter, and a person cannot usually feel it through their skin.
The thyroid is part of the endocrine system. It uses iodine to make several different hormones that control body processes, such as:
- heart rate
- body temperature
- metabolism
- calcium levels in the blood
If a person experiences any potential symptoms of thyroid cancer, it is important to speak with a doctor.
A painless lump in the front of the neck
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, for every 100,000 females, 19 received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, and one female died. In contrast, 7 males received a thyroid cancer diagnosis, and 1 male died for every 100,000 males in the same year.
According to the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, approximately 9 in 10 people live for at least 5 years following a thyroid cancer diagnosis. Doctors refer to this as the 5-year survival rate.
Thyroid cancer has one of the highest 5-year relative survival rates. With treatment, many people with thyroid cancer will live as long as someone without thyroid cancer.
However, the 5-year survival rates vary by type and time of diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
For instance:
- around 9 in 10 people with papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
- about 9 in 10 females and 7 in 10 males with medullary thyroid carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
- approximately 1 in 10 people with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis
Learn more about cancers with the highest 5-year relative survival rate.
Females and males with thyroid cancer experience the same symptoms. In the early stages of the disease, they include a painless lump or swelling below the Adam’s apple and swollen lymph nodes. People may experience other symptoms as the disease develops, including hoarseness and pain.
Females are two to three times more likely to get thyroid cancer than males. Overall, 9 in 10 people live at least 5 years after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer.