September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
join with the aacr to find better ways to prevent and treat thyroid cancer
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat. The gland uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to help make several hormones that control heart rate, body temperature, metabolism, and the amount of calcium in the blood.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), 44,020 people living in the United States will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer and 2,170 will die of the disease in 2024. The five-year relative survival rate for this type of cancer is 98.4 percent.
Types of thyroid cancer
There are four main types of thyroid cancer: papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type, accounting for roughly 80% to 85% of all diagnoses. If the disease is diagnosed early, the cure rates for this type of thyroid cancer are high.
Follicular thyroid cancer is the second most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately 10% to 15% of all diagnoses. It begins in follicular cells and usually grows slowly. This type of cancer is also highly treatable if diagnosed early enough.
Medullary thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid’s C cells, which make a hormone called calcitonin that helps maintain calcium levels in the blood. In this rare cancer, about 25% of cases are caused by a gene mutation. About 90% of those with this mutation will go on to develop medullary thyroid cancer. Blood testing can usually detect the presence of this altered gene.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a very rare and aggressive type of thyroid cancer that usually affects those over age 60. This type of cancer grows and spreads quickly and is difficult to treat.
Risk factors
Exposure to radiation and a family history of thyroid issues are risk factors for thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer occurs about three times more often in women than it does in men.
One Person’s Story
Treatment for thyroid cancer involved surgery, radiation, and medication for a young woman from Virginia. Read her story in Cancer Today magazine: A Personal Journey of Thyroid Cancer Treatment
The latest on thyroid cancer
- Researchers are studying how molecularly targeted treatments can help physicians overcome evolving defensive techniques in thyroid cancer. Learn more on the AACR blog, Cancer Research Catalyst.
- Studies have indicated an increased risk of thyroid cancer among the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and volunteers who responded to the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. To learn more about this association, see the AACR blog, Cancer Research Catalyst.
for more information
For more information on screening and treatment, please see our page on thyroid cancer.
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