The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that regulates weight, body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Detecting the cancer can be difficult. The primary reason is the shortage of screening tests. However, once the different types of thyroid cancer are detected, it can be cured on time.

Types of thyroid cancer you should know about include the following:

1. Papillary carcinoma (PTC)
The majority of cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed with this across the nation and even worldwide. That is why it is one of the topmost types of thyroid cancer. Figuratively, it consists of around 80% of the cases.

These cancer cells grow slowly onto either of the lobes of the thyroid gland. They take birth from the follicular cells found in the gland itself. These cells are responsible for producing thyroxine and triiodothyronine, types of thyroid hormones.

Statistically speaking, this cancer is generally found mostly in young adults and women. Sometimes, it could even spread across the neck expanse if the prognosis is delayed.

2. Follicular Carcinoma
Statistically, numbers say that around 15% of cases are related to this condition. In fact, doctors say that there are more fatal casualties in this cancer than the papillary one.

Usually, people under the age group of 40 to 60 years old are prone to this condition. If the prognosis is not done on time, in rare situations, it could spread to the lungs and the density of the bones. The chances to cure this condition are higher for young adults in comparison to those closer to the age of 60.

An FNA biopsy would be needed to check whether the follicular neoplasms are cancerous or not. If the results are positive, further surgeries would be recommended.

3. Medullary thyroid cancer
It is one of the uncommon types of thyroid cancer. It can carry on to the descendants of the family members. So, this one is hard to detect in the beginning. It does not cause the usual two functions of the thyroid. The affected person would not feel lethargic or have the most typical symptoms.

Only through the visibility of a strange lump around the neck or throat can this thyroid cancer be detected. However, the lump does not provide surety of its existence. A doctor’s consultation would be further required.

Oncologists are trained to examine the nodule to test whether it’s cancerous or not. Most of the times, this lump would not be painful or cause any sort of discomfort, especially when originating around the neck area.

4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer
This type of thyroid cancer is quite life-threatening. However, the chances of one acquiring it are quite slim. Only about 1 % of the cases account for this condition.

The patients diagnosed with this cancer may not lead a long life, as the treatments currently available are still at a rudimentary level.