Thyroid cancer can be a life-altering diagnosis that comes with questions and uncertainties. However, it’s also one of the most treatable types of cancers. Discover everything you need to know about the different types of thyroid cancer, treatments for the disease, and how we can help you navigate this experience at The CHC.
Types of Thyroid Cancer
Depending on the types of cells where the cancer started, you may have one of several different types of thyroid cancer. The most common types include:
- Papillary thyroid cancer: This slow-growing thyroid cancer represents up to 80% of all cases. It is highly curable and seldom fatal.
- Follicular thyroid cancer: Representing up to 15% of all thyroid cancer cases, follicular thyroid cancer is more likely to spread to other parts of your body.
- Medullary thyroid cancer: Relatively rare, medullary thyroid cancer makes up about 2% of all diagnoses. Researchers believe a change in your genes may cause this.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer: Anaplastic thyroid cancer grows quickly and can spread to other areas of the body. It’s the hardest type to treat, so early detection is essential.
Common Treatments for Thyroid Cancer
Although not all types of thyroid cancers require immediate treatment, there are several options for patients who do need it.
Thyroid Cancer Surgery
In most cases, if someone has thyroid cancer and it needs to be treated, they’ll undergo surgery to remove the entire thyroid, just part of it, or any nearby lymph nodes in your neck. The operation your cancer care team recommends depends on a few different factors, including:
- Your type of thyroid cancer
- The size of the cancer
- Whether the cancer has spread
Thyroid Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation treatment for thyroid cancer uses powerful atomic energy to shrink tumors on your thyroid or stop them from growing.
You might receive radiation treatment as a beam of X-rays that your cancer care team directs at your tumor. Otherwise, you may receive it as a pill you take orally or a capsule that your specialty team embeds next to the tumor. No matter what your cancer care team recommends for treatment, they will always give you strict, specialized instructions to make sure the radiation is effective.
You might receive radiation therapy as a standalone treatment, or alongside chemotherapy, surgery, or other options.
Hormone Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
The thyroid produces a lot of your body’s hormones as part of its normal function. However, thyroid cancer can also use these hormones to help it grow and spread.
Hormone therapy can help you replace the hormones your thyroid would normally produce after surgery. In some cases, it can also stop cancer cells from spreading with certain types of thyroid cancer to keep your tumor from growing.
Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
Targeted therapy uses specialized medicine to block the thyroid cancer cells from getting the proteins they need to grow. While it’s similar to chemotherapy, it only targets cancer cells instead of all types of fast-growing cells in your body.
Depending on the type of thyroid cancer you have, your oncologist may recommend specific types of targeted therapy drugs
Chemotherapy for Thyroid Cancer
While chemotherapy is not the most common treatment for thyroid cancer, it can control fast-growing types like anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill fast-growing cells in your body—such as certain thyroid cancer cells or advanced stages of cancer. Your oncologist may give you the chemotherapy drugs through an IV in your arm, or as an oral medication you take on a set schedule.
As a cancer treatment, chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. However, it can also kill other types of fast-growing cells, such as those that make up your hair, gums, and your immune system. Your medical team will talk to you about side effects you can expect and how to relieve them.
Thyroid Cancer Treatment Near You at The CHC
Every experience with thyroid cancer is unique. That’s why our experts at The Cancer & Hematology Centers treat each diagnosis as a new individual case. We provide multiple treatment options, clinical trials, and cutting-edge procedures to set you on the path to recovery.
Learn More About Thyroid Cancer Treatment in Michigan
Our team of oncologists is part of the best thyroid cancer treatment center in Michigan. To learn more about your thyroid cancer treatment options, call 800-411-7999 today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Causes Thyroid Cancer?
While researchers are still trying to figure out what exactly causes thyroid cancer, there are several known risk factors. Some of these include:
- Being female
- Being between 25–65 years old
- Having Asian ancestry
- Radiation exposure during childhood or in the womb, including radioactive fallout
- Having a history of goiter, or enlarged thyroid
- Having a family history of thyroid cancer or other disease
- Carrying certain genetic conditions
Can Thyroid Cancer Spread?
Yes. If left untreated, certain types of thyroid cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. However, most thyroid cancers are not prone to spreading.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?
Some of the most common thyroid cancer symptoms include:
- A lump that can be felt under the skin on your neck
- Changes to your voice, such as hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
- Pain in your neck or throat
Is Thyroid Cancer Treatable?
Yes, thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer—especially if you catch it early. The prognosis is typically positive, but you should still take treatment seriously and communicate with your care team regularly.