Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for thyroid cancer. It has been shown to be effective in certain subsets of patients, including those with aggressive disease and those who are at risk of recurrence or residual disease after surgery. Other high-risk features of thyroid cancer that respond well to radiation therapy include anaplastic thyroid cancer and those that don’t take up RAI. For more information, read on to learn more about this treatment.
ASCO Answers Fact Sheet: This 1-page fact sheet provides a general overview of thyroid cancer. You can print the fact sheet for easy reference. The Statistics section outlines how many cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed each year and the general survival rates. This fact sheet can be helpful when making decisions regarding treatment. For more detailed information, refer to a doctor. Make an appointment with a doctor if you suspect you have thyroid cancer. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thyroid cancer is caused by abnormal cells in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and makes hormones to regulate energy use and keep the body functioning normally. Thyroid cancer may not be painful at first, but you may experience swelling of the neck, changes in your voice, and difficulty swallowing. While thyroid cancer is highly treatable, it is best to seek a diagnosis as early as possible. When detected in its early stages, thyroid cancer may not be a life-threatening disease. Treatments are effective for most cases and the patient may continue to feel good for years.
Thyroid cancer survivors should continue to undergo periodic physical neck examinations. Physical exams will be required every six months for the first two years after the diagnosis. After that time, these visits will occur once or twice a year. Periodic testing of thyroid hormones, TSH and T4, T3, and Thyroglobulin, are also important. This is because if the cancer has spread, it may have returned in the nearby lymph nodes.
Thyroid cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the neck and mediastinum. In approximately 30% of cases, tumor cells spread to these lymph nodes. In addition, ultrasound can help determine the optimal surgical procedure for a patient with thyroid cancer. Depending on the extent of spread, thyroid cancer may not be detected in its early stage. But if the tumor is detected early, surgery may be possible. A thyroid biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
There are several types of thyroid cancer. The most common type is papillary thyroid cancer. It can affect any age but most commonly strikes people in their 30s to fifties. The vast majority of papillary cancers respond to surgery and follow-up therapy. Some aggressive forms of thyroid cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the neck. Fortunately, thyroid cancer is relatively curable and can be managed with surgery. There are certain risk factors that should be avoided, however.
