Thyroid Cancer

How is the disease diagnosed?

If a person has a lump growing on the neck near the thyroid gland, a healthcare provider may suspect cancer. Special x-rays can show that the lump might be cancerous but cannot prove it. A biopsy is done to remove tissue from the lump for examination in the laboratory. Recent research has shown that the development of thyroid cancer may be related to a genetic problem. Because of this, genetic testing may be done if person has other family members with thyroid or similar cancers.