Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland situated in the front of the neck, which makes hormones that control metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Thyroid cancer begins when its cells change and grow uncontrollably, which eventually form small nodules. There are a couple different types of thyroid cancer, and most are curable when detected early. Most people with thyroid cancer develop it for unknown reasons, so effective prevention is difficult to understand. However, reducing the most common risk factors can help prevent thyroid cancer in some cases.