Thyroid cancer is a common form of cancer that effects the thyroid glands. The main thyroid cancer treatments that are used by doctors and oncology experts today include radiotherapy and surgery, and may also require patients to begin a course of thyroid hormones. In certain circumstances, a doctor may also recommend trying chemotherapy for more advanced stages. When your doctor and healthcare team plan thyroid cancer treatments, the most important factor they will have to think about is the type of thyroid cancer you have been diagnosed with. They may also take into account other aspects such as your general health, how far your cancer has spread or grown, and your level of fitness.
Treatments can be highly effective for people with follicular thyroid cancer and papillary thyroid cancer. These can also be successful for a number of people suffering from medullary thyroid cancer. However, it's important to note that anaplastic thyroid cancer is more difficult to treat.
Surgery For Thyroid Cancer
Usually, the first of the thyroid cancer treatments used for papillary, follicular, and medullary cancers is surgery. During surgery, you may have part of your thyroid removed in a process known as a partial thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy. On the other hand, you may have the whole thyroid removed in a procedure known as a total thyroidectomy. If tests suggest that your cancer is less than a centimeter in length, then part of the thyroid gland may be removed. Often, these small tumors have a very low risk of returning as reoccurring cancer, and if you have a low-risk form of cancer in your system, surgery may be the only treatment required.
For medullary and follicular tumors or larger papillary tumors, surgeons will frequently remove the entire thyroid. What's more, it may also be recommended for an individual to undergo further treatment following their surgery, such as radiotherapy. Surgery is not typically possible for anaplastic thyroid cancer, because the cells have spread too far into surrounding tissues by the time of the diagnosis.
Radiotherapy
Another common option in thyroid cancer treatments is radiotherapy. Depending on the stage and type of cancer you are suffering from, you may either be given external radiotherapy or radioactive iodine treatment. In very specific circumstances, some people are given both types of treatment. Radioactive iodine treatment is given to people after surgery, and for cancer that has come back or spread to other locations. This form of treatment is designed to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back into your system.
The follicular and papillary thyroid cancer in your system simple absorb the iodine through the blood stream, and the cancer is killed by the radiation. One significant benefit of this treatment is that it only affects the cancer cells, and there are very few side effects to worry about.
Choosing Treatment
Your doctor or healthcare team will help you come up with a plan of treatment that is best suited to your specific needs and the type of cancer you are suffering from. Together, you should be able to come up with a strategy that gives you the best chance of getting rid of the cancer completely.