Don't ignore these signs of thyroid cancer!

Learn about the symptoms before it is too late.

You may check with your dermatologist regularly to check for skin cancer or get regular mammograms to check for any lumps in your breast but do you even consider testing yourself for thyroid cancer? Even if you are a hypochondriac, we are sure that you did not think about this particular one. While thyroid cancer is not an aggressive type of cancer, you must be aware of its symptoms to rule out its growth. See a doctor if you notice any of these easy to ignore symptoms, says Dr Koushik Chatterjee from Calcutta Oncology Clinic.

Difficulty in swallowing: You might think it is just the sore throat but a mass growing could interfere with your ability to eat. So if you find it difficult to swallow and if this issue persists for a few weeks ensure that you check with your doctor.

Difficulty in talking and breathing: Unless the symptoms are very advanced, symptoms like difficulty in breathing or talking won t occur. So any such symptoms inevitably require immediate medical attention.

Hoarse voice: Your voice box is right on top of your thyroid so automatically any changes in your thyroid would mean that there are changes in your voice. So again, think twice before confusing your hoarse voice with a sore throat.

A lump on neck: Your thyroid gland sits in front of your neck, but if you notice a bump that does not go away within a few weeks, you might need immediate medical attention. If the cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes, you may notice the lump in the right of your neck near the lymph nodes instead of the centre of your neck. Here are the 10 most common types of cancer you should be aware of.

Treatment

The treatment of thyroid cancer depends on the size of the lump. If your lump is less than a centimetre, your doctor may just prescribe some medicines and call you for an ultrasound every six months to make sure that the size of the lump has not changed. Larger tumours need to be removed right away. And if you are unfortunate to get your thyroid removed, you will need to be on thyroid hormones throughout your life. Here's what you should expect during a thyroid function test.

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