6. Neck and Throat Pain: The Disguised Distress Signal
Although a lump in the neck is usually painless in the early stages of thyroid cancer, as the disease progresses, it can lead to neck and throat pain. This is not the typical sore throat that comes with a common cold or flu, but a distinct discomfort or pain that doesn’t seem to go away.
The pain may originate in the front of the neck around the area of the thyroid gland. As the disease progresses, it might radiate to other parts of the neck or even to the ears. This might lead to discomfort while swallowing, speaking, or turning the head.
The occurrence of pain in the neck or throat due to thyroid cancer is usually a sign of advanced disease. As the tumor grows, it can infiltrate the surrounding structures in the neck, causing discomfort or pain.
The pain might be constant, or it might come and go. It might get worse when swallowing or turning the neck. The radiating pain to the ears, also known as referred pain, occurs due to the shared nerve pathways in the neck and ears. (6)
