Some research indicates that the jump in thyroid cancer diagnoses is due to the increasing use of imaging tests, such as ultrasound, which are spotting small tumors that may not have been found in the past. However, studies have found that both large and small thyroid tumors are now being found more often, suggesting that advanced imaging technology isn't the only factor contributing to the increasing number of thyroid cancer cases.

Early on, thyroid cancer doesn't cause symptoms. As the cancer grows, symptoms might include:

- A neck lump that can be seen or felt

- Persistent hoarseness, or difficulty speaking in a normal voice

- Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck

- Difficulty swallowing or breathing

- Pain in the throat or neck

While these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than thyroid cancer, they should be pointed out to a physician.

Thyroid cancer, for the most part, is considered one of the least deadly cancers. Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid is the most common treatment. The death rate has remained low for the most common forms of thyroid cancer even as the number of patients diagnosed climbs.

SOURCE Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource