THYROID cancer can affect as many as one in 20 of us in the UK – and there is one ‘silent’ symptom you should always keep tabs on.
Around 3,400 diagnoses are made each year – but it can be difficult to detect with early signs or symptoms often hard to distinguish.
Those who report a ‘silent’ symptom of thyroid cancer are urged to consult their GP
According to the NHS, one such symptom can be diarrhoea.
Going to the toilet more often can mean that there has been an increase in hormone calcitonin – a ‘silent’ symptom of thyroid cancer.
This is because an overactive thyroid speeds up bodily systems, including digestion.
You should be checked out by your doctor if you have concerns – with possible treatments including surgery or a medical prescription.
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer according to the NHS include:
- A lump in the front, lower part of your neck – the lump usually feels hard, slowly gets bigger and is not painful
- A hoarse voice
- A sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Pain in the front of your neck, or a feeling like something is pressing against your neck
The thyroid gland is found at the base of your neck at the front.
It is a butterfly-shaped gland that produces and releases hormones that regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
Around 90 per cent of people who get a thyroid cancer diagnosis live for five years, and many go on to live a normal lifespan.
The figure drops to one in ten with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, however, as some types of thyroid cancer are more severe than others.
An underactive thyroid is treated with daily hormone replacement tablets called levothyroxine which raise your thyroxine levels.
For an overactive thyroid, medicine that stops your thyroid producing too many of these hormones is a common solution.
Patients can find more information and support on the British Thyroid Foundation website.
