Thyroid Cancer

THYROID CANCER TREATMENTS₁

References
1. National Cancer Institute http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thyroid/Patient/page5

Stages I and II Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Treatment of stage I and II papillary and follicular thyroid cancer may include the following₁:

• Total or near-total thyroidectomy, with or without radioactive iodine therapy.
• Lobectomy and removal of lymph nodes that contain cancer, followed by hormone therapy. Radioactive iodine therapy may be given following surgery.

Stage III Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer₁

Treatment of stage III papillary and follicular thyroid cancer is usually total thyroidectomy. Cancer that has spread outside the thyroid, as well as any lymph nodes that have cancer in them, will also be removed. Radioactive iodine therapy or external radiation therapy may be given after surgery.

Stage IV Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer₁

Treatment of stage IV papillary and follicular thyroid cancer that has spread only to the lymph nodes can often be cured. When cancer has spread to other places in the body, such as the lungs and bone, treatment usually does not cure the cancer, but can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. Treatment may include the following:

• Radioactive iodine therapy.
• External-beam radiation therapy.
• Surgery to remove cancer from areas where it has spread.
• Hormone therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of a targeted therapy.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer₁

Treatment may include the following:

• Total thyroidectomy if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
• Removal of lymph nodes that contain cancer.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has recurred in the thyroid.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer₁

Treatment may include the following:

• Tracheostomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Total thyroidectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has not spread away from the thyroid.
• External radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of total thyroidectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

THYROID CANCER RESOURCES

ThyCa, Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc  http://www.thyca.org/ - A comprehensive resource for thyroid cancer survivors. Education of Thyroid cancer, interaction amongst other thyroid cancer patients/ healthcare professionals, and promote research for a future free of thyroid cancer.

American Thyroid Association – http://www.thyroid.org/index.html - focused on thyroid biology and the prevention and treatment of thyroid disorders through excellence and innovation in research, clinical care, education, and public health.

Dear Thyroid - http://dearthyroid.org/about/ -  a literary thyroid support community for women, teens and men. Essentially, Dear Thyroid is written by patients, for patients.

Light of Life Foundation http://www.lightoflifefoundation.org/ The mission is to improve the quality of life of thyroid cancer patients through continual education of the lay public and the medical community, and by promoting research and development to improve thyroid cancer care.

THYROID CANCER mASS KICKERS

Kairol Rosenthal – A thought provoking blogger and author who discusses issues all cancer survivors must deal with

Cancer blog - A collection of Thyroid Cancer blogs

Featured Thyroid Cancer mAss Kicker Interviews

Kairol Rosenthal: Chicago, IL

Special thanks to Becky Mackenzie, Donna Zurick, and Kairol Rosenthal

Medical Disclaimer
This website is designed to provide additional information to patients and their loved ones when faced with intimidating diagnoses. A physician or medical professional should be consulted before making any health related decisions. We serve as a portal for information so that an informed and efficient decision can be concluded by all parties involved. The creators of this site are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any form of damages whatsoever resulting from the use (or misuse) of information contained in or implied by the content of this website. The purpose of the mAss Kickers is to empower people with knowledge, not to specifically advise people how to address each unique situation.