Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid Cancer: treatments, trials & survival

Thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis in most cases. Learn about different types, treatment approaches, and when clinical trials may be appropriate.

New Cases (2024)
44,020
5-Yr Survival
98.5%
Annual Deaths
2,170
Trend
Stabilizing
See active trials

About Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis in most cases. Learn about different types, treatment approaches, and when clinical trials may be appropriate.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database, an estimated 44,020 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2024, with approximately 2,170 deaths. The overall 5-year relative survival rate is 98.5%.

Source: NCI SEER Data: 1975–2022

Treatment options

Current treatment approaches for thyroid cancer depend on the stage at diagnosis, tumor characteristics, and the patient’s overall health. The most common options include:

1
Surgery (Thyroidectomy)
2
Radioactive Iodine (RAI)
3
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
4
Targeted Therapy (Lenvatinib, Sorafenib)
5
External Radiation
6
RET Inhibitors (Selpercatinib)

Treatment recommendations should always be discussed with a qualified oncologist. The options listed above are based on current clinical guidelines and may vary case by case.

Stages

Staging describes the extent of cancer in the body and is crucial for planning the most appropriate treatment:

Stage I Stage II Stage III Stage IV

Known risk factors

Understanding risk factors can support prevention and early detection. Known risk factors for this cancer include:

Radiation exposure
Family history
Female sex
Iodine deficiency
Genetic conditions (MEN2, FAP)
Age

Not sure where to start?

A patient navigator familiar with thyroid cancer can help you understand your options and connect you with top US hospitals. Free & confidential.

Active clinical trials

Clinical trials offer access to cutting-edge treatments not yet widely available. The trials below are sourced in real time from ClinicalTrials.gov:

Frequently asked questions

Thyroid cancer has one of the best survival rates at 98.5% five-year survival. Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type, has a near 100% survival rate when caught early.
The main types are papillary (most common, ~80%), follicular, medullary, and anaplastic (rarest and most aggressive). Treatment approach varies significantly by type.
Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy destroys remaining thyroid tissue and cancer cells after surgery. It is highly effective for papillary and follicular thyroid cancers that absorb iodine.
Small papillary thyroid cancers may be candidates for active surveillance instead of immediate surgery. This approach is increasingly recommended for very low-risk microcarcinomas (<1cm).
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