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Cancer of the thyroid
Thyroid cancers are fairly rare types of cancer, accounting for 1 in 100 of all cancers, with approx. 1,100 new cases in the UK each year. They usually grow slowly.
The thyroid gland is situated at the base of the throat. It absorbs iodine from the diet and produces thyroid hormones, which keep the body functioning normally.
There are three main types of cancer of the thyroid:
- Papillary: the most common type, more common in younger people, predominantly women.
- Follicular: less common found particularly in older people.
- Medullary: a rare type which is sometimes, but not always, hereditary.
The outlook for most types of thyroid cancer is generally very good and many people are completely cured of the disease, even if it has spread beyond the thyroid.









