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Up to 98% of thyroid cancers can be cured if they are found early. But once the cancer spreads, it is much harder to treat. That’s why it’s important to bring up any concerning symptoms to your primary care provider.
Fred Hutch Cancer Center specialists offer a full range of options to find and treat thyroid cancer.
Thyroid Cancer Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
Screening Tests for Thyroid Cancer
There is no screening test for thyroid cancer for people of average risk. Most thyroid cancers are found early, when people see their primary care provider due to a lump or swelling in the neck. Thyroid cancers are also sometimes found during imaging tests, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, for other health problems.
Screening tests may be recommended for some people who are at increased risk. This includes people who:
- Were exposed to radiation to the head and neck as a child, or to radioactive fallout
- Have a close relative with thyroid cancer (parent, sibling or child)
- Have an inherited condition that raises the risk of thyroid cancer
If any of these apply to you, talk with your health care team about whether you should be screened for thyroid cancer.
To actually diagnose thyroid cancer, you will need to have samples of cells taken from your thyroid (biopsy). A pathologist, a physician who specializes in checking tissue samples, uses a microscope to see if the cells are cancer. Fred Hutch pathologists are experts in diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Diagnostic Tests for Thyroid Cancer
If your physician suspects you may have thyroid cancer, they will want to perform a thorough physical examination and talk with you about your medical history. During the exam, your physician will check for signs of thyroid cancer, such as changes to the size and firmness of your thyroid and if there are any enlarged lymph nodes in your neck.
An accurate diagnosis of thyroid cancer requires several tests. You might have either or both of these:
Fred Hutch Expertise in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis
Fred Hutch has experts in testing for and diagnosing thyroid cancer. They include experienced medical oncologists, endocrinologists, surgeons and pathologists. Our specialists see many people with thyroid nodules and tumors.
If you have cancer, we have the latest technologies to find out as much about your disease as possible. That’s key to making a treatment plan that will get the best results for you.
Fred Hutch researchers are always looking for better ways to treat thyroid cancer. We are doing clinical trials of new drugs and drug combinations to treat different types and subtypes. Our scientists are also developing new methods to tell which cancers are likely to respond best to which treatments.