Once your care team has the results of your diagnostic tests and has assigned a stage to your cancer, our specialists will develop a treatment plan for you based on the type of thyroid cancer you have and whether it has spread.
Most thyroid cancers are slow growing and don’t spread quickly to other tissues or organs, but some types can be very aggressive. When deciding which treatment option will be best for you, your doctor will also consider your age, your health and the size and location of your tumor.
Throughout your treatment, we want you to feel like you’re an active participant in your care. Please talk with your care team about your treatment goals and always feel free to ask during your appointments.
Your will be based on your health history and the stage of your cancer. You may have one or more of the treatments listed below.
Learn more about the different types of surgery for thyroid cancer and what to expect before and after surgery.
Your care team may recommend one or more of the following types of medical treatment instead of or in addition to surgery.
, sometimes called RAI or I-131, is a treatment that targets thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer cells left after surgery. It is most often used for differentiated thyroid cancers, including papillary, follicular, and Hürthle cell types, which are more likely to respond. This therapy is generally not used for medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancers.
RAI is usually given as a pill or liquid that is absorbed by thyroid cells, so it mostly affects the thyroid and cancer cells while sparing other tissues. Side effects vary with the dose and may include dry mouth and changes in taste or smell. Most of the radioactive material leaves the body through urine within a few days, and patients follow specific safety precautions during that time to protect family and others. RAI can help prevent cancer from returning after surgery or treat thyroid cancer that has spread beyond the thyroid.
If your thyroid is removed or treated with radioactive iodine, your body may no longer produce enough thyroid hormones on its own. These hormones are essential for metabolism, overall health, and helping reduce the risk of certain thyroid cancers returning. Your surgeon may prescribe to maintain normal hormone levels.
After a total thyroidectomy, daily hormone medication is required. Even after a lobectomy, where only part of the thyroid is removed, many patients still need thyroid hormone supplements, especially if hormone levels were low before surgery. Your thyroid surgeon works closely with an endocrinologist to monitor your hormone levels and adjust treatment as needed, ensuring your body stays in balance.
are treatments that target one or more proteins or changes found in cancer cells, affecting the cell’s ability to grow or spread. This type of therapy is most often used to treat anaplastic thyroid cancers and medullary thyroid cancers, but it can be used to treat other types of thyroid cancers.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to shrink and kill cancer cells. Although radiation therapy is not a common treatment for thyroid cancer, your surgeon may recommend to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery or to kill remaining cancer cells after surgery. Sometimes radiation may be used when surgery is not possible.
, is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. For thyroid cancer, it’s rarely needed, but it may be recommended for fast-growing cancers such as anaplastic thyroid cancer, or when the disease has spread and can’t be treated with surgery or radiation. Chemotherapy is usually given through an IV, though some forms are pills. Sometimes it’s combined with radiation therapy. Today, doctors often try targeted drugs first since they are more effective for most types of thyroid cancer.
At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, palliative care is available to help manage symptoms related to thyroid cancer or its treatment. This may include medications to relieve pain, swelling, or discomfort, as well as support for fatigue, difficulty swallowing, or voice changes. Palliative care focuses on improving comfort and quality of life and can be provided alongside other treatments such as surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, or medication.
Clinical trials offer patients the opportunity to try new approaches to diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. These studies may involve innovative medications, treatment combinations, or new ways to deliver care that aren’t yet available outside the research setting. At Brigham and Women’s, our research uses the latest insights into thyroid cancer to develop safer and more effective treatments. Your doctor can discuss whether a clinical trial might be a good option for you.
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