Living with Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma
Thyroid cancer that runs in families, usually of the papillary or follicular type, often in younger people.
Understanding Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma
Current studies suggest it is inherited in an autosomal dominant way. It is often found in more than one spot in the thyroid and on both sides, and it usually affects younger patients. It is listed as starting in adulthood.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Enlarged thyroid in the neck (goiter)
- Thyroid with several lumps (nodular goiter)
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Head and neck tumor
- Follicular thyroid carcinoma
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists, genetic specialists and hormone specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Cancer specialists (oncologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in genes cause it. Studies suggest an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one changed copy of a gene is enough. GARD doesn't name the gene.
Also known as: familial nonmedullary primary thyroid carcinoma; familial nonmedullary thyroid gland carcinoma; familial pure nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma; fnmtc; fnmtc - familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma
Patient organizations
- ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma.
Explore research for Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma
Explore actively recruiting Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Familial papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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