Although there are many forms of thyroid cancers, the most common types are papillary and follicular cancers. Fortunately, papillary and follicular are the most curable of thyroid cancers. When diagnosed early and treated appropriately, papillary and follicular thyroid cancers can have about 97% cure rate.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the overall 5-year relative survival rate for 1999-2005 from 17 SEER (Surveillance Epidemiology and Ends Research) geographic areas was 97.3%. Five-year relative survival rates by race and sex were:
- 94.8% for white men;
- 98.2% for white women;
- 91.4% for black men;
- 95.5% for black women.