A 21-year-old member asked:
How is thyroid cancer treated?
6 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Quang Nguyenanswered
Specializes in Endocrinology
Surgery: Surgery is the best way to treat thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine and some drugs also treat thyroid cancer but these are typically done after surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Surgery first: Typically the entire thyroid is removed (total thyroidectomy) along with any involved lymph nodes in the neck. This is usually followed by radioactive iodine - an outpatient procedure with few side effects. Cure rate for people less that 40 is almost 100%, although some people will need more than one operation. Find an experienced surgeon - it amkes a difference!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Stephanie Leeanswered
43 years experience
Thyroid cancer: Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. The treatment is a combination of thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone therapy. Some patients need only surgery and other with metastatic disease need all 3 treatments. Some very aggressive tumors fail these 3 treatments and can be treated with "tyrosine kinase inhibitors".
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
886 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Langanswered
Internal Medicine - Endocrinology 54 years experience
Yes: There are several types of thyroid cancer and the treatments are different. The most common is papillary cancer and it is treated with surgery and thyroid hormone replacement. If there is a high risk of spread then radioactive iodine is given after surgery to 'ablate' any remaining thyroid so that, if there is a recurrence it can be detected early and treated. Then recurrence is unusual.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Absolutely: Typical thyroid cancer in women less than 50 has about a 98% survival rate. Although there are occasional very aggressive thyroid cancers (mostly in older men), most thyroid cancer is easily treated. Make sure you find an experienced thyroid surgeon. Try the american association of endoctine surgeons website.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Stephanie Leeanswered
43 years experience
Thyroid cancer: Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. The treatment is a combination of thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
886 viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 21-year-old member asked:
What is thyroid cancer?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ritesh Rathoreanswered
Hematology and Oncology 32 years experience
Often curable cancer: The thyroid gland is in the lower neck and makes essential hormones. Cancers of the thyroid gland are of multiple types; the most common is of the pappliary subtype. Often surgery is the first step of treatment followed by treatment with trace amounts of radioactive iodine which destroys any remaining cancer. In most cases survival and cure rates are very good.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. inderjit Deol commented
Pathology 43 years experience
Agree. Most common thyroid cancer is papillary type which may be curable. However, other thyroid cancers such as anaplastic, medullary type, or invasive follicular cancer can be aggressive. The first step is biopsy of the tumor to diagnose type of cancer. Treatment may differ for each tumor.
May 25, 2015
Last updated Mar 12, 2020
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