Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the rarest type of thyroid cancer, and accounts for less than one percent of all cases. The onset of this type of cancer peaks in those over age 65 and is twice as common in men than women. However, papillary thyroid cancer, which has a 95-98 percent cure rate, is more prominent in women than men.

The majority of thyroid cancer cases occur in younger populations. However, after age 45, thyroid cancers become biologically more aggressive. People who are over age 75 are more likely to have anaplastic growths, which are uniformly aggressive in spreading to other areas of the body, including the lungs, and very lethal.

“Upwards of 30 percent of women between the ages of 25-45 would be diagnosed with a nodule growing on their thyroid gland,” said Robert Hunter, MD, head and neck oncologist at Intermountain Medical Center. “But it’s important to note that only 12 percent of thyroid nodules are worrisome and require some form of treatment.”

Treatment of thyroid cancer varies. Some patients simply have their thyroid removed. Others have the thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes removed, and then undergo radioactive iodine treatment. The best treatment option is based on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the patient’s age.

People with thyroid cancer would rarely have noticeable symptoms. The abnormal growths on the thyroid are more often detected during an unrelated x-ray of the head, neck, or chest.

“Often we see images from a patient who had an x-ray or CT scan following a trauma or unrelated injury because a growth was incidentally observed on the thyroid,” said Dr. Hunter. “But on occasion we have patients who notice a lump in their neck that moves up and down when they swallow. A lump of that nature is something that should be evaluated.”

After a nodule is identified on the thyroid, the patient is typically referred to an expert and later sent for an ultrasound and needle biopsy to determine if cancer cells are present. If the growth is non-cancerous, the patient follows up in six to 12 months to determine any changes in the growth. If cancer cells are identified, the specialist would discuss available treatment options.

Thyroid cells may become cancerous when genetic abnormalities cause the cells to mutate. Research indicates that environmental factors, such as radiation exposure, are often the cause of these abnormalities.