Most thyroid cancers do not cause any signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, neck ultrasounds are important for early diagnosis of thyroid cancer. However, as thyroid cancer grows, it can cause:
- Pain in your neck and throat
- A mass that can be felt through the skin on your neck
- Changes in voice tone, including increasing hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling, especially in the lymph nodes in your neck.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor and have a neck ultrasound performed, along with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and head and neck examination, and your vocal cords checked.
