Doctor explains increase of number of thyroid cancer cases

The number of people with thyroid cancer is increasing nationwide due, in large part, to more frequent exposure to medical care and imaging, according to Dr. Joel Turner, vice chair of the Department of Surgery at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Turner said most people don't have any symptoms of thyroid cancer and that they don't know they have a thyroid nodule unless they develop a lump. Turner said about 90 percent of nodules are not cancerous. An ultra sound and biopsy are the next steps to determine whether treatment is needed, and Turner said the good news is, thyroid cancer is highly survivable.