Thyroid cancer disproportionally affects women more than men. However, vocal changes, neck pain, and persistent coughing are common thyroid cancer symptoms in anyone.
Cancer occurs when cells in your body grow abnormally, replicating damaged DNA, the genetic code your body uses for development and survival.
Thyroid cancer is cancer that develops in your thyroid gland, the gland in your neck that generates hormones responsible for regulating processes like metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.
While women are
You’ll notice that the language used to share statistics and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between “female” and “women” and “men.”
Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
The studies and surveys referenced in this article didn’t report data on, or include, participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.
Thyroid cancer presents similarly for women and men. Symptoms may include:
However, many people with thyroid cancer do not have symptoms. This is because thyroid cancers typically do not affect thyroid function, so the hallmark signs of too high or too low thyroid hormones are not usually present.
When thyroid cancer does affect thyroid function in rare cases, you may notice subtle symptoms caused by too little or too much thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), such as:
Thyroid dysfunction can cause changes in your monthly menstrual cycle, too. This can result in periods that are lighter or heavier or are happening more or less often.
According to research from 2023, skin changes may occur along with thyroid cancer. This may be due to underlying genetic conditions or because the cancer has spread to the skin tissue.
These skin changes can appear as follows:
There are
Other rare types of thyroid cancers do exist, including thyroid lymphomas and thyroid sarcomas.
Papillary thyroid cancer, a type of differentiated cancer, is the most common type in all people, making up approximately 70–80% of thyroid cancers. The second most common type of thyroid cancer is follicular thyroid cancer.
Women are disproportionately affected by thyroid cancer. It’s
The reasons for this aren’t well understood. Some research suggests men and women experience thyroid cancer equally, and that women are more likely to detect thyroid cancer.
Other theories point to natural female hormonal cycles that may play a role in an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
A 2021 study found that women who began menopause at age 45 or older had a higher risk of thyroid cancer, compared with women who began menopause at a younger age.
Thyroid cancer can develop in anyone at any time, but the average age of diagnosis overall is around age
In women, thyroid cancer is more common between ages
In general, thyroid cancer is one of the most common cancers in people between ages
While women are diagnosed with thyroid cancer more often than men, survival rates are similar.
Thyroid cancer survival rates vary depending on if the cancer is localized to its original location, regionally spread into nearby tissues, or has moved to distant sites around the body.
Survival rates also vary depending on the type of thyroid cancer.
According to the
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is often more aggressive and challenging to treat. Its 5-year survival rates are:
Survival rates compare the likelihood that someone with thyroid cancer is to survive for 5 years after receiving a diagnosis, compared with someone without thyroid cancer.
For example, a 99.5% survival rate suggests that someone with the condition is 99.5% as likely to live for 5 years as someone not living with cancer.
Many factors can affect survival rates, including age, overall health, and treatment options.
It is important to know that the data listed above is based on people who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 2012 and 2018. Thyroid cancer treatments have improved in recent years, and survival rates may have increased as a result.
Thyroid cancer is more commonly diagnosed in women than men, but the signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer are universal.
If thyroid cancer is affecting thyroid hormones, you may notice changes to your menstrual cycle.
Last medically reviewed on August 9, 2023
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Aug 9, 2023
Written By
Hope Gillette
Edited By
Ari Howard
Medically Reviewed By
Julie Scott, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCNP
Copy Edited By
Anne Arntson
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