Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and aggressive form of cancer affecting the thyroid. Doctors usually treat it with surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiation.

There are four types of thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common, and ATC is the rarest. ATC affects around 2% of those with thyroid cancer and is especially prevalent in those over 60 years.

It can be difficult for doctors to treat ATC as it is an aggressive form of cancer and spreads quickly. However, new treatment methods are developing, which improve the outlook for people with ATC.

What is it?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. It secretes several hormones that help regulate the body’s processes. One of these hormones is thyroxine (T4) which influences metabolism, growth, and body temperature.

ATC is a fast-growing cancer of the thyroid. Doctors may refer to it as undifferentiated thyroid cancer. This is because the cancer cells do not resemble or behave like typical thyroid cells.

This form of cancer spreads rapidly and can be difficult to treat. Therefore the outlook is poorer than that of many other cancers.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of anaplastic thyroid include:

a fast-growing, painful mass in the thyroid area
hoarseness
difficulty swallowing
shortness of breath
cough
About one-third of individuals with ATC also experience vocal cord paralysis. This can make it difficult for people to eat, breathe, and speak as they usually do.

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