Thyroid cancer is rare compared to other types of cancers but is the most common endocrine or hormone-related cancer. Endocrineweb notes that there are four types of thyroid cancers, with papillary cancer being the most common. Papillary cancer affects the cells that produce iodine-containing hormones in the thyroid gland. This type of cancer is slow growing and well-differentiated with cells that appear to be similar to normal thyroid cells. Papillary cancers account for up to 80 percent of all thyroid cancers and are usually successfully treated. Symptoms of papillary cancer are similar to other types of thyroid cancers.
Lumps
A thyroid cancer is usually first detected as a small nodule or lump in the throat. Cancer Help UK emphasizes that most lumps felt on the thyroid are benign (not cancerous) and harmless. Papillary thyroid cancer causes irregular, solid or cystic masses or lumps. Lumps felt in the throat are also caused by infections and other minor illness. In some cases, a doctor may detect lumps in the thyroid gland during a physical examination that a patient would not have noticed.
Pain
The University of California San Francisco notes that most thyroid nodules, whether they are cancerous or benign, do not cause pain, particularly in the early stages of cancer. However, pain and discomfort can occur if the nodules or growths are due to papillary, other thyroid cancers and other reasons, become too large or are situated so that they compress a nerve or other structure in the throat.
Throat Symptoms
The thyroid gland is situated at the base of the throat below the larynx or voicebox and above the trachea or windpipe to the lungs. For this reason, papillary thyroid cancer directly and indirectly affects the many nerves and organs in the throat. This causes symptoms that the UCSF lists, such as a tight or full feeling in the neck, a tickling sensation in the throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing and swollen and enlarged lymph nodes. If the larynx is affected, difficulty speaking or hoarseness of voice can also occur. These symptoms are much more likely at advanced stages of papillary thyroid cancer and in some cases may be temporarily worsened due to cancer treatment.
