Thyroid cancer is on the rise in the US. Scientists can’t say exactly why this is happening. One theory is that improvements in imaging technologies are picking up more thyroid cancers during tests for other conditions.

There hasn’t been much progress in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer over the last 40 years. And there are really no treatment options for thyroid cancer involving the mutated gene called BRAF. Two new weapons offer good news on both fronts.

Most thyroid cancers are treatable, even curable. However, as with most cancers, once spreading (metastasis) begins, tumors are more difficult to treat. A medication is being evaluated to strengthen the arsenal against advanced thyroid cancer.

You could have a lump on your thyroid and not even know it. More than half of adult Americans have lumps — called nodules — on the thyroid, a gland at the base of the neck. There’s controversy about which of these nodules need to be tested for cancer.

Doctors don’t know why abnormal growths called nodules commonly show up on the thyroid. These growths are often nothing to worry about, but sometimes they are cancerous.

Thyroid cancers are typically (and thankfully) less aggressive than most other cancers but sometimes they cannot be treated using traditional therapy. 

The world’s first major nuclear incident happened 27 years ago in the former Soviet Union. The Chernobyl nuclear plant caught fire and later exploded, releasing radiation throughout the region. 

One day after announcing that his cancer had returned, Roger Ebert has died. The  veteran film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times had battled thyroid and salivary gland cancer for years. He was 70 years old.

The most common types of thyroid cancer are fairly easy to live with. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) isn’t one of them, though. Early research shows a combination of anti-cancer meds may be beneficial.

Thyroid cancer is usually one folks can live with for a long time. The vast majority – 95 percent – are alive five years after diagnosis. Despite this positive outlook, there’s a disturbing trend with this cancer.