Effective Treatment For Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is one of the cancers, which have a successful curable rate. Most of the time, the curable rate is 98%. Although the course of the treatment depends on the type of cancer and the stage of prolongation. The chances of curing of thyroid cancer are commonly higher in follicular and papillary types of thyroid cancer.
Well, the probability of the success of the treatment is much greater in younger patients aging below 50 years. The preference of the patient, severity, and type of cancer are usually the decisive factors for the treatment. The treatment involves mostly:
- Surgical removal
- Radiation therapy
- Hormonal therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Palliative care
In the initial cases of diagnosis, the doctors do not readily go for any treatment. The reason behind not going right away for any treatment is that there is a lower chance of the spread of cancer. The early-stage cancer patient is kept under surveillance to keep track of cancerous cells. Doctors also recommend a screening test of the neck after every six months. In some patients, cancer might not even spread throughout their lifetime. However, if the cancerous cells detected in a screening test, early treatment can be initiated.
Surgery:
A multidisciplinary team of radiologists, oncologists, and surgeons plan out the type of surgical procedure considering all the prevailing factors. The decision is made by having a look at the ultrasound of the entire thyroid gland. Furthermore, there are different types of surgeries performed, considering the condition of cancer.
- Lymph node dissection:
In this procedure, the surrounding lymph nodes are also removed with the thyroid gland to eradicate cancer.
- Thyroidectomy:
When the cancer is prevailing all over the thyroid gland, there is the surgical removal of the whole gland. This procedure is known as a thyroidectomy.
- Thyroid Lobectomy:
The removal of a portion of the gland by surgery is known as thyroid lobectomy. A lobectomy usually keeps in check if the cancer is recurring in the nearby areas.
Radiation Therapy
The treatment involves exposing the gland to heavy doses of radioactive iodine for intervals. This therapy usually kills the remaining cancerous cells or tissues after the surgery. Radioactive iodine comes as a capsule for taking orally. The possible side-effects of this treatment include irritated eyes, dry mouth, and an altered sense of taste.
Hormonal Therapy
The medications like Levolyx and Synthroid cause the suppression of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH). The goal is to control the TSH levels because an increase in the TSH level stimulates the cancer cells. These medications also help in the production of the missing hormones. The medications are usually for lifetime use.
Chemotherapy
In the case of Anaplastic thyroid cancer, chemical infusion causes the killing of cancerous cells. Chemotherapy accompanies radiation therapy to give the best results. The infusion is mostly intravenous.
Palliative Care
A team of nurses and doctors provide supportive care to improve the quality of life of the patients. The aim is to heal the pain and improve the daily functioning of the patients who have undergone surgery.