Thyroid cancer earns its name because it starts in the thyroid gland, a small endocrine gland in the neck that helps regulate heart rate, body temperature, metabolism, and blood pressure. Statistics show that thyroid cancer is three times more common in women than men. There are about forty-three thousand new cases diagnosed every year. Early detection of thyroid cancer lends to a survival rate of nearly a hundred percent, especially when medications like pralsetinib, Gavreto, and Lenvatinib are prescribed as part of treatment. Some key symptoms that can help lead to early detection are outlined below:

1. Unexplained hoarseness

If you sound or feel hoarse with no explanation, you should investigate further. You might also notice some changes to your voice. It might sound raspier. You might assume it’s a case of laryngitis and it will take care of itself if you rest your voice. The thyroid is actually supposed to be the protector of your larynx, often referred to as your voice box. The thyroid gland hugs the front of the larynx. The pressure of growing cancer can lead to hoarseness without you ever actually straining your voice. Your vocal cords are in the same area and will be put under pressure by the nodules associated with thyroid cancer. Your voice might sound deeper or just a little off. If you notice a change in your voice with no real reason and it isn’t going away, it’s important to have it looked into. Make sure the doctor you see knows all of your symptoms and their duration.

2. Sore throat that doesn’t improve

If you find yourself reaching for the couch drops to ease a sore throat day after day, it could be another indicator of something serious. If you have swollen lymph nodes, you might assume you have a mild cold or some other virus that would explain the sore throat. If you have had a sore throat for more than three weeks, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. If you have an unexplained, dry cough, it’s easy to blame a sore throat on the coughing. However, you need to evaluate all the symptoms. If your throat hurts and doesn’t seem to feel better with the usual remedies and persists, it’s a sign there is more going on.

3. Trouble breathing

Struggling to take normal breaths because of the pressure on the throat is another sign of thyroid cancer. It might feel like being choked by a collar that is just a little too tight. The breathing trouble might start with the cough that can be associated with thyroid cancer. The dry cough starts and suddenly, you’re struggling to get a full breath. Trying to swallow water to soothe the sore throat that triggered the cough is an endless cycle. A cancerous thyroid can squeeze or push down on the windpipe which makes it difficult to breathe. It might start as shortness of breath and progress to something more serious.

4. Swollen neck glands

When you have a cold or flu, you might notice swollen or tender pea-size lumps in your neck. Doctors will check this area to determine whether your lymph nodes are swollen. When your body is fighting infection, including flu or cancer, these nodes swell. They are easy to feel on your own. Gently touching your neck at the base of your throat will detect any hard lumps, which indicate swollen glands. If you don’t feel sick but your glands are swollen, it’s something to talk to your doctor about. There might be stiffness or pain, but not everyone will experience the same feeling.

5. Difficulty swallowing

Your thyroid sits near the top of your throat, just below your jaw. If you feel pressure in that area or find it difficult to swallow, it is worth getting checked out. It might feel like you actually have a lump in your throat. There might be pressure or even some pain. You might feel like you’re choking on something even though you haven’t eaten anything. Eating might become difficult. You might find yourself choking on a typical bite of food for no apparent reason. Trying to swallow water might lead to a choking fit. That feeling of it ‘going down the wrong pipe’ can be a sign of something serious.

The symptoms of thyroid cancer may be easily explained away by a cold or allergies. They might feel innocuous, but if these symptoms persist, it’s time to get a doctor’s opinion. A lump on the throat might be easily seen, making the diagnosis pretty simple. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. A trained medical professional can do a thorough exam and feel a lump the average person might have never noticed. Survival rates are very high when thyroid cancer is caught before it can spread through the lymph nodes to other areas of the body. Listen to your body. You know it best. You’ve had a cold before and are familiar with what it should or shouldn’t feel like and how long it should last. Women in their thirties are more prone to thyroid cancer and should take any of these warning signs seriously.