The outlook for a patient with thyroid cancer depends on the type, and stage of the disease, as well as the patient’s health and preferences. It is best to discuss the treatment options with your doctor to find out which ones are right for you. Additionally, you should ask your doctor about any side effects or other potential complications, so that you’re well informed before starting treatment. It is also important to discuss any goals or expectations you have for treatment.
One treatment option is surgery. A surgeon will remove the thyroid gland, but you will need to go through a recovery period. After the surgery, you’ll be given synthetic hormones to support your body’s vital functions. This treatment is not a cure for thyroid cancer, but it will help you live a normal life. If you survive the treatment, you will need to continue taking these synthetic hormones. These hormones are usually not associated with significant side effects, but you’ll need to visit your healthcare provider for regular checks.
After treatment, you may have to undergo chemotherapy or radioactive iodine therapy to treat thyroid cancer. External-beam radiation therapy may be necessary, which helps reduce pain and other side effects. Surgery for stage III and IV thyroid cancer is only an option if it’s spread beyond the thyroid. If your cancer spreads to your bones, blood vessels, or carotid artery, your doctor may not be able to cure it. But if you have a thyroid cancer that’s stage III or IV, you can still have it treated.
Thyroid cancer is not very common in the United States, and most patients survive with treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, ninety percent of people with thyroid cancer live for at least five years. But the diagnosis of the disease is a scary and debilitating experience. For that reason, it is always good to know that there are options available for people with thyroid cancer. You should also make sure to check your family history, as you never know when it might strike.
Although surgery may not cure your thyroid cancer, it may help you recover from it. In the first days after surgery, you should avoid strenuous lifting, but you can walk or move around normally. Your neck and throat may feel sore, but you should be able to return to work in a few days. Pain medication is usually enough to manage the postoperative pain, and half of patients only require a narcotic pain reliever during the first night.
During childhood, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, or exposure to radioactive fallout from power plants or nuclear weapons can lead to thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer, however, is a benign form of thyroid cancer. Unlike the other two types, it grows slowly and does not spread to other parts of the body. Most patients will respond well to treatment and recover completely from the disease. This makes thyroid cancer extremely curable if caught early.
