Thyroid Cancer Leads Rising Cancer Rates in Women

A report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals a significant shift in the cancer burden from men to women in the United States. For the first time, cancer rates in women ages 50 to 64 surpassed those in men. Additionally, women under age 50 had an 82% higher cancer rate than men in the same age group in 2021, up from 51% in 2002.

The trend is tied to rising rates of breast and thyroid cancer in younger women, along with declining rates of melanoma and prostate cancer in men over the last 20 years.

Caitlin McMullen, MD, a head and neck surgeon in the Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, is not surprised to see thyroid cancer top the list.

“Thyroid cancer, in general, is more common in women than men by far,” McMullen said.

Caitlin McMullen, MD

The reasons why more women than men are diagnosed with thyroid cancer remain unclear. It is the third most common solid tumor in teens and young adults, but only 5% of cases are diagnosed in those early years. Most patients are 45 or older, and many cases are found by accident.

“Many patients have their thyroid cancer detected accidentally on other tests or routine physical exams,” McMullen said. “This disease often does not cause any symptoms. If symptoms develop, these can include a lump in the neck, persistent voice changes and persistent swallowing trouble.”

According to the ACS report, the causes for the overall rising cancer trends in women are unknown, though potential factors could include alcohol consumption, ultra-processed food and lack of exercise.

However, most people with thyroid cancer have no known changeable risk factors, making prevention nearly impossible. Radiation exposure has been linked but is rare.

“There's nothing clear that tells us that if you change something in your life, it's going to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer,” McMullen said. “Smoking, alcohol use, obesity, all these things we know are associated with lots of different types of cancer. But it's not a direct link, a causative link, that we know for certain causes thyroid cancer.”

Despite the many unknowns, thyroid cancer has a survival rate of 98%, one of the highest of all cancers.  McMullen emphasized that while diagnoses have increased, the cancer itself hasn’t become more aggressive. Most cases are curable with surgery alone.

“Other typical cancer treatments such as external beam radiation and chemotherapy are rarely used for thyroid cancers. The surgery involves removing half, or sometimes all, of the thyroid gland,” McMullen said. “Some patients may also have lymph node involvement, which requires a longer surgery to include lymph node removal. These operations tend to have a smooth recovery.”