Is it possible to live with untreated thyroid cancer?

Needs to be treated: Papillary and follicular cancer (the most common) are slow growing compared to cancers such as lung or colon. But untreated they can spread and cause complications, shorten your life. Thyroid cancer can be readily treated, first with surgery, then with radioactive iodine. Unless the patient has a short life expectancy (eg. Very old, other medical problems), thyroid ca should be treated.

Not recommended: Even though papillary thyroid cancer is non-aggressive, it can kill you. It's after all a cancer. Thyroid surgery is now safer, especially in the hand of an experienced surgeon. The risk is much less than leaving a cancer in for a watch and wait aproach. Worst thing to do is to wait 10 yrs until you are now older with more medical problems and now have to go for surgery.

Not recommended : There are several types of thyroid cancer, with some being slower growing than others. Thyroid cancer should be treated, however, unless there is a major medical reason not too.