Many people with thyroid cancer don’t have any signs or symptoms of the disease.

One symptom of thyroid cancer may be small, painless lumps or swellings called nodules in the front of the neck.

Other symptoms can include:

• hoarseness
• trouble swallowing
• breathing problems
• pain in the throat or neck that doesn’t go away
• a cough that doesn’t go away

Speak with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms so that you can be sure to get a proper diagnosis and treatment if needed.

In recent years, ultrasounds and other diagnostic imaging tests have gotten better at giving doctors clear and detailed pictures. As a result, many people discover that they have thyroid cancer by chance during an imaging test that’s being done for something else.