Thyroid Cancer Stories
From Patients and Survivors
Explore in-depth stories from thyroid cancer patients and survivors, who share everything from how they got diagnosed, thyroidectomy, and navigating life with cancer.
The staging for thyroid cancer patients younger than 55 and those 55 and older are different, so that’s how we’ve separated their stories.
Thyroid Cancer General Info
Types
Thyroid cancer can be of four main types, which vary in their aggressiveness. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is hard to cure with current treatments, whereas papillary (the most common), follicular, and medullary thyroid cancer can usually be cured. (National Cancer Institute)
First Signs and Symptoms
These can vary, and you should always check with your medical professional on what are best steps to take. As our community members say, don’t forget to advocate for yourself – you know your body best. These are the top first symptoms they experienced before their thyroid cancer diagnosis:
- Lump in neck
- Fatigue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarse voice, painful when talking
lump in neck
“I noticed a lump on my neck. It was over the right side of my clavicle. I really didn’t think too much about it. I have a history of cysts. I told my acupuncture doctor about it. I remember him saying not to worry too much because it was probably just a cyst. It was not painful, and it was moving easily.
He did say that if it doesn’t go away to get it checked. Well, a few months went by and I went to see him again. The lump was still there. He agreed that it would be best to get it checked out by my PCP.”
fatigue
“I actually didn’t know that anything was wrong. I know that kind of sounds like a typical guy, but I really didn’t. The symptoms that I was experiencing were symptoms that perfectly mimicked themselves with eating bad.
And at the time, my son was going through that new baby phase. We just chalked up the fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and the lack of concentration to being exhausted and tired from being up at night, because we’d both do that.”
difficulty swallowing
“I occasionally had a hard time swallowing things for about eight months. Just certain things here and there would be difficult to swallow.
I actually didn’t know anything was wrong. I was having coffee at the table with my mom and my aunt, just waiting for my cousin to call. I was just about to ask her to be my maid of honor and my mom noticed a lump on my neck. I called the doctor immediately.”
Hoarse voice
“About six months before I found out I had cancer, one of my main symptoms was my voice was extremely hoarse. Not the kind of hoarse when you wake up, feel a little groggy, and have to clear your throat. I would speak and my voice would go in and out. It would actually sometimes really hurt to talk.
Another really alarming symptom I had was I had a lymph node on one side of my neck that was protruding out of my skin. I would constantly shake it off because a few times when I was younger I had mono.”
Thyroid Cancer Stories, Under 55
Taylor S., Patient Advocate, Thyroid Cancer (Oncocytic Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland), Stage 1
“Give yourself grace, but also do it on your own time.”
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Lindsay C., Thyroid Cancer (Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma)
Symptoms: Lightheadedness to the point of fainting, low blood pressure, loss of menstrual period, weight loss, brain fog, joint pain (old injuries and surgeries hurting), soreness and stiffness of legs, depression, severe anxiety, trouble concentrating, sweaty palms, dry eyes, sensitivity to light and sound, tingling in hands and feet, hair loss, weak nails, tiny bumps on legs, digestive issues (soft stool and diarrhea), rapid heartbeat, fatigue despite sleeping for long hours, insomnia, nightmares/night terrors, temperature dysregulation/burning sensations, (burning hands but feet and ears ice-cold)
Treatment: Surgery (thyroidectomy)
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Lizzie F., Thyroid Cancer
Symptoms: No outright signs or symptoms; evaluation by new doctor found a nodule
Treatment: Surgery (right thyroid lobectomy)
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Audrey B., Thyroid Cancer, Stage 2
Symptoms: Respiratory issues, pneumonia, night sweats, severe fatigue, sharp pain in lower left lung area, shortness of breath
Treatments: Surgeries (total thyroidectomy, parathyroid transplant, central neck dissection)
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