These days, everyone lives in fear of the C word — cancer — a disease that has wreaked havoc on millions of lives. In people who have thyroid cancer, the prognosis is good: most people are successfully treated and live long, productive lives. Nonetheless, thyroid cancer is a serious condition, and in the aftermath of treatment, requires lifelong vigilance and care. In this chapter, you'll learn what thyroid cancer is, how to detect it, and how it's treated.