MOST symptoms of thyroid cancer appear in your neck, throat and voice.
You might notice a hard lump, hoarseness, a pressing pain or difficulty swallowing.
Going red in the face is a sign of thyroid cancer you might spot when shopping for make-up
But there are some more unusual signs to look out for, according to the NHS.
This includes a redder face, known as flushing, which you might spot when shopping for new make-up – particularly foundation.
In some people it’s very noticeable and is accompanied by a burning sensation, but in others it can show merely as a slight tinge.
It’s caused by having too much of the hormone calcitonin, which regulates levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says.
Made by the medullary thyroid cancer cells, excess calcitonin can indicate a rare type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer.
Other less common symptoms include:
- Softer poos or diarrhoea
- Weight loss
- A cough
Thyroid cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the thyroid gland, which sits in the throat, start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
Without treatment, cancer cells can eventually grow into surrounding healthy tissues and spread to other areas of the body.
Around 3,900 people are diagnosed in the UK each year, according to CRUK.
There are around 410 thyroid cancer deaths.
While bowel problems, weight loss and coughing can occur, there are several far more usual signs of the disease.
These are:
- A lump in the front, lower part of your neck (this usually feels hard, slowly gets bigger and is not painful)
- A hoarse voice (for more than three weeks)
- A sore throat (for more than three weeks)
- Persistent difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Pain in the front of your neck, or feeling like something is pressing against your neck
Treatment depends on the size and type of thyroid cancer, if it has spread, and a person’s overall general health.
But it will usually involve surgery, as well as potentially hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The NHS urges anyone who experiences these symptoms to visit their GP.
“Having them does not definitely mean you have thyroid cancer, but it’s important to get them checked,” it says.
“This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.”
