Thyroid Cancer Treatment: Options, Approaches, and What to Expect
Thyroid cancer treatment depends on several factors, including the type, stage, and overall health of the patient. With advances in medical science, most thyroid cancers can be effectively treated using a combination of surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, hormone therapy, and in some cases, targeted treatments. Understanding the available treatment options can help patients make informed decisions and feel more confident in their care journey.
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on your type stage, general health status, and preferences.
The majority of people with thyroid cancer undergo surgery to remove the thyroid.Â
What do doctors recommend?
Your doctor’s recommendation depends on the types of thyroid cancer, the size of the cancer whether it has expanded beyond the thyroid gland.Â
Operations used for the treatment of thyroid cancer include:
Removing all or most of the thyroid (thyroidectomy). procedure to remove the thyroid gland would involve removing all thyroid tissue (total thyroidectomy)
The doctor’s advice is based on the size and progress of the tumor.
Removal of part of the thyroid gland (thyroid lobectomy). When a thyroid lobectomy is performed, the surgeon removes half of the thyroid. It may be advisable if you have slow-growing thyroid cancer in the thyroid gland and no suspicious nodules in other areas of the thyroid.
After thyroidectomy, you can take the thyroid hormone levothyroxine for life.
Hormone Therapy Benefits:
It provides the missing hormone that your thyroid would normally produce, and it removes the production of thyroid hormone stimulant (TSH) from your pituitary gland.Â
Radioactive iodine treatment uses high levels of radioactive iodine.
Benefits
Radioiodine therapy can also be used to treat thyroid cancer that reappears after treatment or spreads to other parts of the body.
The radioactive iodine treatment comes in the form of a capsule or fluid that you swallow.Â
Radioactive iodine is absorbed mostly by thyroid cells and thyroid cancer cells, so there is a low risk of harming other cells in your body.
Side effects may include:
- Dryness in mouth
- oral pain
- inflammatory eyes
- change in the sense of taste or odor.
- tiredness
Radiotherapy may also be administered externally using a machine that targets high-energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, at specific points in your body (external radiotherapy). During processing, you stand still on a table while a machine moves around you.
When its recommended?
External radiotherapy may be recommended if surgery is not an option and your cancer continues to develop after radiation iodine therapy.Â
Chemo is a medicine that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemicals move through your body, killing fast-growing cells, including cancerous cells.
When Chemo is used?
Chemotherapy is not commonly used to treat thyroid cancer but is sometimes recommended for individuals with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Chemotherapy can be used in combination with radiotherapy.
Targeted medication treatments focus on certain abnormalities in cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted medication treatments can cause the death of cancer cells.
Targeted Drug Therapy Benefits:
Targeted medication therapy for thyroid cancer targets signals that tell cancer cells to develop and multiply. It is usually used to treat advanced thyroid cancer.
If you want to know more, do visit the targeted therapy for cancer treatment page.
Alcoholic ablation involves injecting alcohol into small thyroid cancers using imaging such as ultrasound to ensure the precise placement of the injection.Â
Benefits:
It causes thyroid cancers to shrink. Alcohol ablation could be an option if your cancer is quite small and surgery is not an option. It is also sometimes used to treat cancer that reappears in the lymph nodes after surgical intervention.
Typically, the treatment of thyroid cancer depends on the location, extent of spread and stage of cancer. The different treatment approach for treating thyroid cancer are:
Typically, doctors advise surgery for thyroid cancer treatment. Usually, after the surgery, your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy. Â
Surgery is often advisable for treating stage 2 thyroid cancer. However sometimes your doctor may suggest you radiotherapy or chemotherapy to remove cancer cells permanently.Â
The treatment for stage 3 thyroid cancer is similar to the treatment of stage 2 thyroid cancer. Your doctor will surgically remove the cancer and the adjacent lymph nodes. After the surgery, your doctor may advise you on external radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy to eradicate cancer completely.
For treating stage 4 cancer, your doctor may suggest external beam therapy, followed by radioactive iodine therapy and hormone replacement therapy.
Sometimes your doctor may suggest some medicine to ease your discomfort caused by the cancer.
Once you get diagnosed with cancer, the first thing that comes to your mind is where you should get treated. While it is a difficult decision, here are a few tips that can help you choose the best country for thyroid cancer treatment:
- Choose a country that has world-class health-care facilities with the latest devices for cancer treatment.
- Check for the survival ratios for people who underwent thyroid cancer treatment in the chosen country
- Confirm the success rate of thyroid cancer treatment in the country
- Confirm the affordability of the treatment cost of staying in that countryÂ
In addition to checking on the affordability and availability of the latest treatment, you must also consider other factors, including:
- Easy availability of connecting flights,Â
- Safe and easy availability of local transportation, and
- Safety of the selected country.
 The world-class treatment with advanced technology attracts many to the Western nations, but the cost of thyroid cancer treatment in those countries is usually high.
However, in contrast to Western nations, the cost of thyroid cancer treatment in India is almost half.Â
Along with offering affordable treatment the hospitals in India also offer world-class facilities for you, with high success and survival ratios for thyroid cancer treatment.
Selecting a hospital for thyroid cancer treatment is essential because a good hospital provides you with world-class facilities for cancer treatment.
In addition to providing world-class facilities, you must also ensure that the hospital you have chosen offers a multidisciplinary approach where you get adequate care from specialists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and well-trained nurses who work together to provide the best treatment for you.
Moreover, you must ensure that the chosen hospital has a dedicated unit for cancer treatment with a well-trained post-care team.
Although selecting an oncologist for your thyroid cancer treatment is an arduous task, it is one of the major decisions you make for your cancer treatment.Â
An experienced and well-trained doctor provides you with the necessary treatment to reverse or manage the symptoms of cancer. Before selecting an oncologist for your thyroid cancer treatment, you must ensure:
- The doctor has certification from the tumor board
- Enquire if your doctor has his team of specialists for treating cancer, which includes specialist surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists
- The experience and expertise of your doctor in treating thyroid cancer
Now, let’s explore the thyroid cancer treatment cost in India.
The total cost of thyroid cancer surgery in India can vary from USD $3,300 to $5,500 (245475 – 409125 INR).
Thyroid cancer is usually treated with surgery followed by radioactive iodine therapy, which can often cure the disease. Chemotherapy may be recommended if cancer has spread.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. Is thyroid cancer curable?
A. Yes, most types of thyroid cancer are highly treatable and curable, especially when detected early.
Q2. Will I need radioactive iodine after surgery?
A. It depends on the type and stage of thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine therapy may be recommended to destroy remaining cancer cells.
Q3. Are there side effects from thyroid cancer treatment?
A. Some treatments may cause side effects like fatigue, voice changes, or hormone imbalances, but these are usually manageable with care.
Q4. Do I need lifelong medication after thyroid cancer treatment?
A. If your thyroid is removed, you’ll likely need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement to maintain normal body functions.
Next in Thyroid Cancer
Author Bio:
Dr. Yashashree Joshi – MBBS, MD (Philippines)
Dr. Yashashree Joshi, MD, is a globally-trained oncologist with a robust academic background and extensive experience in pioneering cancer treatments. Dedicated to patient-centered care, she continually integrates the latest advancements in oncology to provide her patients with innovative and personalized treatment plans.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
