How is thyroid cancer treated?
This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience. The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor. Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don’t hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options. The first part of this section describes the various types of treatments used for thyroid cancers. This is followed by a description of the most common approaches used for these cancers based on the type and stage of the cancer.
Thyroid cancer may be treated with surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor from the thyroid, while leaving as much of the thyroid as possible intact. Sometimes the entire thyroid may have to be removed. If this happens, patients will need to take hormone pills for the rest of their lives, to replace their own missing thyroid hormone. The goal of radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) is to kill cancer cells using radioactive iodine. RAI is a special form of radiation using iodine. The thyroid cells are uniquely hungry for iodine and pick it up from the blood after injection. This leads to high doses within both the normal and cancerous thyroid, which will kill these cells. Other cells in the body, which do not take up iodine do not get radiation and avoid destruction. If needed, radioiodine treatments can be repeated more than once, to make sure all cancer cells are destroyed. The goal of radia
Your stage of thyroid cancer and your overall health will determine the method your doctor recommends for treating your illness. The mains ways of attacking thyroid cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy (drugs), and thyroid hormone therapy. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best treatment for your thyroid cancer based on: • Your age, overall health, and medical history • Type of thyroid cancer • Extent of the disease • Grade and stage of the cancer • Your tolerance of specific medicines, procedures, or therapies • Expectations for the course of the disease • Your opinion or preference All treatments have benefits and risks. You and your doctor should carefully balance the potential benefits of any cancer treatment with its potential risks. After the thyroid cancer is diagnosed and staged, your physician will recommend a treatment plan.
Surgery is the main treatment for thyroid cancer and is used in nearly every case, except perhaps some anaplastic thyroid cancers. If the results of fine needle aspiration (FNA) tests indicate thyroid cancer, surgery to remove the tumor and all or part of the remaining thyroid gland is usually recommended. Lobectomy: This operation is sometimes used for differentiated thyroid cancers that are small and that show no signs of spread beyond the thyroid gland. The lobe containing the cancer is removed, usually along with the isthmus (the small piece of the gland that acts as a “bridge” between the left and right lobes). Because this surgery leaves part of the gland behind, it may not require the lifelong use of thyroid hormone supplements afterward. But having some thyroid left can interfere with some tests to look for cancer recurrence after treatment, such as radioiodine scans. Thyroidectomy: This operation removes all (total thyroidectomy), nearly all (near-total thyroidectomy) or most
