How to Treat Thyroid Cancer

The startling fact is that thyroid cancer cases are rising steadily. There is a possibility that every year at least thirty thousand new cases will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Though this fact is really frightening, the good news is that thyroid cancer can be treated and cured, especially if it is diagnosed at an earlier stage. The treatment of thyroid cancer may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, hormone treatment or a combination of one or two of these treatments. The treatment will vary depending on the type and stage of the thyroid cancer.

The most common treatment adopted by the doctors is surgery. This surgery may include the following:

1.      Lobectomy: The lobe that consists of cancerous growth is removed. Biopsy may be done in order to detect the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes.

2.      Lymphadenectomy: This includes the removal of the cancerous lymph nodes

3.      Near Total Thyroidectomy: This will include the removal of almost whole, but a small part of the cancer affected thyroid

4.      Total Thyroidectomy: The whole of thyroid is removed during surgery

There may be certain side effects of surgery like temporary or permanent loss of voice or hoarseness. Parathyroid glands may be damaged thus lowering the blood calcium levels. This in turn may cause numbness, muscles spasms and tingling sensations. The wound may get infected, or there may excessive bleeding as well. Sometimes, there may be occurence of hematoma, i.e., a major blood clot in the neck region.

Radioactive iodine is often used as a treatment therapy to cure papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. This may have some side effects like nausea, vomitting, swelling or tenderness of neck, dry mouth and changes in taste.

Chemotherapy is given through mouth, or is injected through some vein to kill the cancer cells. It may result in hair loss, diarrhea, mouth sores, loss of apettite, fatigue, etc. A targeted therapy is generally used to attack specific cancer cells without causing any harm to the normal ones.

Thyroid hormone therapy stops the growth of cancer cells. Some drugs may be administered to inhibit the making of thyroid stimulating hormone that increases the risk of reccurence of thyroid cancer. However, higher level of thyroid hormone may lead to irregular or rapid beating of heart. Similarly, it can lead to osteoporosis as well.

The papillary carcinomas are usually treated with surgery followed by radioiodine therapy. If there is recurrence, surgery or radioiodine therapy may be used to treat it again. Same is the case with follicular and Hurthle cell carcinoma. If it has spread to other body parts, chemotherapy, radiation beam therapy, or targeted therapy may be used. Targeted drug therapy is used in the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer. Anaplastic carcinoma is cured by using external beam radiation therapy. It can also be used in combination with chemotherapy.

Your doctor is the best judge to guide you on the possible ways to treat thyroid cancer. If you are interested in knowing more about this cancer, its treatment, prevention, etc., you can visit cancer8.com. This site will help you to understand the finer aspects of thyroid cancer and its other facets in a better way.