Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

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Treatment of Cancer of the thyroid

Treatment depends on a number of factors including age, general health, the type and size of the tumour, and whether it has spread beyond the thyroid.

Possible treatments for thyroid cancer include:

  • Surgery is often the main treatment for thyroid cancer. In most cases the whole thyroid gland will need to be removed (total thyroidectomy). Sometimes it is adequate to remove one lobe (partial thyroidectomy).  These procedures are carried out under general anaesthetic. Depending on the type of cancer, the lymph nodes may also be removed if they contain cancer cells.
  • Radioactive iodine treatment may be necessary following surgery. This will be taken as tablet, or a liquid. It is low dose radiation so treatment is monitored in hospital for a few days.
  • Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.