Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Cancer Procedures and Treatment Options
Thyroid cancer occurs in the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that is responsible for producing hormones that regulate many functions in your body, including your metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.
Working closely with the renowned experts at Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, the Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge provides the latest surgical treatment options for thyroid cancer. Get in touch with our team to learn more.
Who is at risk of thyroid cancer?
Anyone can get thyroid cancer, regardless of age, sex, and race. However, certain populations have a higher risk of developing it. Risk factors of thyroid cancer include:
- Female sex. This type of cancer occurs more frequently in women than in men.
- Genetics. Those with a family history of thyroid cancer and associated syndromes are at higher risk.
- Radiation exposure. Radiation therapy to the head and neck area increases the risk of thyroid cancer.
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer in its early stages rarely presents symptoms. As the cancer grows, you may notice the following:
- A lump or nodule that can be felt in your neck under the skin
- Hoarseness and vocal changes
- Pain in your throat or neck
- Problems swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?
Physicians used a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures to detect thyroid cancer, including:
- Physical examination. Your doctor may examine your neck to feel for lumps or nodules. They may also ask about your family history and past exposure to radiation.
- Genetic testing. Depending on your family history, your doctor may recommend genetic testing to detect genes associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
- Blood test. Specialists can analyze the hormones in your blood to determine whether your thyroid is functioning properly.
- Ultrasound. This imaging technique uses sound waves to create an image of your thyroid so your doctor can examine nodules and whether they may be cancerous.
- Biopsy. Your doctor may use ultrasound imaging to guide a long, thin needle into the thyroid to take a sample of tissue. This sample is then examined for the presence of cancer cells.
- CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging. Your doctor may use an imaging test with a radioactive form of iodine to help determine whether the cancer has spread.
How is thyroid cancer treated?
Thyroid cancer is curable with treatment. Your doctor will recommend treatment options based on your cancer type and stage. Our team offers the following therapies, among others.
- Endocrine surgery. Procedures include thyroidectomy (removal of all or a portion of the thyroid gland), thyroid lobectomy (removal of half of the thyroid), and lymph node dissection (removal of the lymph nodes in your neck).
- Thyroid hormone therapy. After removal of your thyroid, your doctor may prescribe the hormone replacement levothyroxine.
- Radioactive iodine. This treatment is used after thyroidectomy to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue and cancer cells. It may also be used for thyroid cancer recurrence or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
- External beam radiation therapy. Specialists can use technology to send high-energy beams into specific areas of the body to destroy cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy. Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy based on your type of thyroid cancer. It involves an infusion of chemicals through a vein to kill cancer cells.
- Targeted drug treatment. For thyroid cancer in advanced stages, our team can target abnormalities in cancer cells to prevent them from growing and dividing.
- Alcohol ablation. This procedure involves injecting alcohol into small thyroid cancers to shrink them.
Request a consultation with the Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge to learn more about your surgical treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thyroid Cancer Surgery
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Can thyroid cancer be cured with surgery?
Thyroid cancer is curable with treatment, and endocrine surgery alone is often very effective. Depending on your type and stage of thyroid cancer, your doctor may recommend additional treatments such as radioactive iodine therapy, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, or external beam radiation therapy.
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How serious is thyroid cancer surgery?
There are several different levels of thyroid cancer surgery, including:
- Lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy). This procedure involves removing half of the thyroid. Surgeons may consider this surgery when the nodule only affects one lobe.
Isthmusectomy. An isthmusectomy is the surgical removal of the isthmus, the tissue that connects the two lobes of the thyroid gland. It is only an option for very small nodules that only affect the isthmus. - Near-total thyroidectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes most of the thyroid gland, leaving behind a small portion of one or both lobes. This surgery has a reduced risk of hyperparathyroidism compared to a total thyroidectomy.
- Total thyroidectomy. This technique involves a surgeon removing the entire thyroid, which may be necessary depending on the size and spread of the nodules.
Your surgeon and endocrinologist can help you determine the extent of thyroid surgery that is right for you.
- Lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy). This procedure involves removing half of the thyroid. Surgeons may consider this surgery when the nodule only affects one lobe.
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How long is recovery from thyroid cancer surgery?
In general, patients can drive again after about a week of recovery (when they are fully able to turn their head side-to-side) and return to work about 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Some minor symptoms may linger for a few weeks or months, including the sensation of a lump in the throat or a change in the voice, but they should eventually resolve. If these symptoms continue for more than three months, contact your doctor.
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Can you live a normal life without a thyroid?
People can live normal lives without thyroids. However, people without this gland may need to make a few minor adjustments to their lifestyle to account for symptoms that medications don’t fully handle, like body temperature fluctuations and reduced energy.
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What should I expect after my thyroid is removed?
If you have a total thyroidectomy, you will need to take a synthetic hormone replacement to replace those that your thyroid gland would have produced. It may take some time to find the right level, so expect some doctor’s appointments where they draw blood to test the amount of the hormone in your blood and adjust your medication accordingly. During this period, you may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, including anxiety, difficulty sleeping, constipation, weight gain, and more. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms begin to affect your everyday life.