Treatment:

Treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer.

Surgery is most often done. The entire thyroid gland is usually removed. If the doctor suspects that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, these will also be removed during surgery.

Radiation therapy may be performed using external beam (x-ray) radiation or by taking radioactive iodine by mouth. It may be done with or without surgery.

After treatment, you need to take thyroid hormone to replace what your glands used to make. The dose is usually a little higher than what your body needs, which helps keep the cancer from coming back.

If the cancer does not respond to surgery or radiation and has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be used, but this is only effective for a small number of patients.

Support Groups:

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group made up of people who share common experiences and problems. See: Cancer - support group

Expectations (prognosis):

Anaplastic carcinoma has the worst outcome of all the types of thyroid cancer. It is usually deadly despite aggressive treatment.

Follicular carcinomas are often fast growing and may spread to other tissues, but the outlook is still good. Most patients are cured.

The outcome with medullary carcinoma varies. Women under age 40 have a better chance of a good outcome.

Papillary carcinomas are usually slower growing. Most people are cured and have a normal life expectancy.

Patients who have treatment for thyroid cancer must take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of their lives.

Complications:

Complications of thyroid cancer may include:

• Injury to the voice box and hoarseness after thryoid surgery
• Low calcium levels from accidental removal of the parathyroid glands during surgery
• Spread of the cancer to the lungs, bones, or other parts of the body

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you notice a lump in your neck.