Key Takeaways
- Understanding anaplastic thyroid cancer seniors aggressive treatment is important for seniors and their caregivers.
- A physical exam almost always shows a growth in the neck region.
- This type of cancer cannot be cured by surgery.
- You can often ease the stress of illness by joining a support group of people sharing common experiences and problems.
- The outlook with this disease is poor.
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What Are the Common Causes and Risk Factors?
Understanding anaplastic thyroid cancer seniors aggressive treatment is important for seniors and their caregivers. anaplastic thyroid cancer is an invasive type of
thyroid cancer
that grows very rapidly. It occurs most often in people over age 60. It is more common in females than in males. The cause is unknown.
Anaplastic cancer accounts for less than 1% to 2% of all thyroid cancers in the United States.
What Are the Symptoms and Warning Signs?
Symptoms include:
- Cough
-
Coughing up blood
-
Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness or changing voice
- Loud breathing
- Lower neck lump, which often grows quickly
- Pain in the neck
- Vocal cord paralysis
-
Overactive thyroid (
hyperthyroidism
)
📖 What Are Exams and Tests?
What Are Exams and Tests?
A physical exam almost always shows a growth in the neck region. Other exams may include:
-
An
MRI
or
CT scan
of the neck may show a tumor growing from the thyroid gland.
-
A thyroid
biopsy
makes the diagnosis. The tumor tissue can be checked for genetic markers that may suggest targets for treatment, preferably within a clinical trial.
-
An examination of the airway with a fiberoptic scope (
laryngoscopy
) may show a paralyzed vocal cord.
-
A
thyroid scan
shows this growth to be “cold,” meaning it does not absorb a radioactive substance.
Thyroid function blood tests are normal in most cases.
📖 How Is It Treated?
How Is It Treated?
This type of cancer cannot be cured by surgery.
Surgery combined with
radiation therapy
and
chemotherapy
may have a significant benefit.
Surgery to place a tube in the throat to help with breathing
(tracheostomy
) or in the stomach to help with eating (gastrostomy) may be needed during treatment.
For some people, enrolling in a clinical trial of new thyroid cancer treatments based on the genetic changes in the tumor may be an option.
The presence of a mutation in the BRAF gene is treatable with targeted medicines and may improve outcomes.
📖 What Are Support Groups?
What Are Support Groups?
You can often ease the stress of illness by joining a support group of people sharing common experiences and problems.
📖 What Is Outlook (Prognosis)?
What Is Outlook (Prognosis)?
The outlook with this disease is poor. Most people do not survive longer than 6 months because the disease is aggressive and there is a lack of effective treatment options. However modern targeted therapies particularly targeting BRAF variants has shown promise as well as the use of immunotherapy and other novel treatments.
📖 What Are Possible Complications?
What Are Possible Complications?
Complications may include:
- Spread of tumor within the neck
-
Metastasis
(spread) of cancer to other body tissues or organs
📖 When to Contact a Medical Professional?
When to Contact a Medical Professional?
Contact your health care provider if you notice:
- A persistent lump or mass in the neck
- Hoarseness or changes in your voice
- Cough or coughing up blood
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid
-
Thyroid cancer – CT scan
-
Thyroid gland
Asban A, Patel AJ, Reddy S, Wang T, Balentine CJ, Chen H. Cancer of the endocrine system. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds.
Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology
. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 68.
Bible KC, Kebebew E, Brierley J, et al. 2021 American Thyroid Association guidelines for management of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Thyroid
. 2021;31(3):337-386. PMID: 33728999
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33728999/
.
National Cancer Institute website. Thyroid cancer treatment (PDQ) – health professional version.
www.cancer.gov/types/thyroid/hp/thyroid-treatment-pdq
. Updated May 9, 2025. Accessed March 31, 2026.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): thyroid carcinoma. Version 1.2025.
www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/thyroid.pdf
. Updated March 27, 2025. Accessed March 31, 2026.
Pearce EN, Hollenberg AN. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA.
Goldman-Cecil Medicine
. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 207.
Updated by: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
-
Thyroid Cancer
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
What Are the Common Causes and Risk Factors?
thyroid cancer
that grows very rapidly. It occurs most often in people over age 60.
What Are the Symptoms and Warning Signs?
Cough
Coughing up blood
Difficulty swallowing
Hoarseness or changing voice
Loud breathing
Lower neck lump, which often grows quickly
Pain in the neck
Vocal cord paralysis
Overactive thyroid (
hyperthyroidism
)
📖 What Are Exams and Tests?
What Are Exams and Tests?
An
MRI
or
CT scan
of the neck may show a tumor growing from the thyroid gland. A thyroid
biopsy
makes the diagnosis.
How Is It Treated?
radiation therapy
and
chemotherapy
may have a significant benefit. Surgery to place a tube in the throat to help with breathing
(tracheostomy
) or in the stomach to help with eating (gastrostomy) may be needed during treatment.
About the Author: This article was researched and written by the SilverWell Hub editorial team. It was medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, Geriatrics.
Sources: This article is adapted from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. See our full Medical Disclaimer.
Published: July 25, 2026 | Next review: January 2027
