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Warning-sign checks

Thyroid cancer: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services if you have severe difficulty breathing, feel that your airway is closing, cannot speak because of breathlessness, or develop blue or grey lips or skin.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent same-day help for a neck swelling that is enlarging quickly, new noisy breathing, or rapidly worsening swallowing problems.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine medical appointment if you notice a new or persistent neck lump, an enlarging thyroid nodule, unexplained hoarseness, swollen neck glands, or ongoing difficulty swallowing.

    These symptoms are usually caused by something other than cancer, but they should be assessed.

    If you have been treated for thyroid cancer, contact your follow-up team if you develop a new neck lump, a lasting voice change, increasing swallowing difficulty, unexplained bone pain, or other new symptoms that do not settle.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Thyroid cancer. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.