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|     **Posted:** 02/08/2002    **Updated:** 09/16/2002 |  |
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|  | IntroductionThe ThyroidUnderstanding CancerThyroid Cancer: Who's at Risk?SymptomsDiagnosisStagingTreatmentGetting a Second OpinionPreparing for TreatmentMethods of TreatmentSide Effects of Cancer TreatmentSurgeryRadioactive Iodine (I-131) TherapyHormone TreatmentExternal Radiation TherapyChemotherapyFollowup CareSupport for People with Thyroid CancerThe Promise of Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute BookletsNational Cancer Institute Information ResourcesPage Options  Print This Page  Print This Document  View Entire Document  E-Mail This Document  Order Free CopyQuick LinksDictionaryFunding OpportunitiesNCI PublicationsNCI CalendarEspañolNCI HighlightsOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthNCI Annual Progress Report on Cancer Research 2003Women, Tobacco and Cancer: Agenda for 21st CenturyPast Highlights | Introduction

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 01-4994) has important information about *cancer* of the thyroid.  Each year in the United States, thyroid cancer is diagnosed in 14,900 women and 4,600 men.

This booklet discusses possible causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and followup care.  It also has information to help patients cope with thyroid cancer.

Research is increasing what we know about thyroid cancer.  Scientists are studying its causes.  They are also looking for better ways to detect, diagnose, and treat this disease.  Because of research, people with thyroid cancer can look forward to a better *quality of life* and less chance of dying from the disease.

Information specialists at the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can help people with questions about cancer and can send NCI publications.  Also, many NCI publications are on the Internet at http://cancer.gov/publications.  People in the United States and its territories may use this Web site to order publications.  This Web site also explains how people outside the United States can mail or fax their requests for NCI publications.

**Words that may be new to readers appear in *italics*.  The "Dictionary" gives definitions of these terms.  Some words in the "Dictionary" have a "sounds-like" spelling to show how to pronounce them.**

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