There are 4 main types of thyroid cancer. The papillary and follicular types are sometimes grouped together and called differentiated thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common and usually slow growing and is most common in women and in younger people; follicular thyroid cancer is less common, usually affects slightly older people and can spread to other parts of the body, e. g the lung or bones; anaplastic thyroid cancer is rare, tends to grow more quickly than other types, can be more difficult to treat and is more common in older people and women; medullary thyroid cancer is a rare, mostly hereditary condition and can spread to other parts of body, e. g the lungs and bones. It's also possible to get another type of cancer, called lymphoma in your thyroid gland, although this is rare.
Attribution: BUPA