Thyroid Cancer forms in the thyroid gland (an organ at the base of the throat that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight). Four main types of thyroid cancer are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. The four types are based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope.

Estimated new cases and deaths from thyroid cancer in the United States in 2009:

New cases:  37,200
Deaths:  1,630

To learn more about thyroid cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute web site at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid