Cancer treatment depends on the stage and level of progression in a patient. It also depends on the patient’s physiological conditions. The oncologist will ensure that the treatment prescribed to a patient does not harm his/her well being as a majority of the procedures have side effects. On seeking a Thyroid Cancer Treatment, a patient will have to be very cautious and careful about his/her health regime.
Treatments Involved In Thyroid Cancer
Cancer sometimes does not spread and remains the same for a long period. Surgery is not proposed until it becomes progressive or bigger in size. Proper surveillance and monitoring are done to check on the condition on a regular basis.
The types of Thyroid Cancer Treatment done are mentioned below.
- Surgical Procedures
In most of the cases, the thyroid is removed to check the spread of cancer to other tissues. The different types of operations performed depend on the condition of a thyroid gland.
- Thyroidectomy
The procedure in which the entire thyroid gland and the tissues associated with it are removed is called thyroidectomy. Proper care is taken while removing the gland to secure the parathyroid gland and the tissues surrounding it.
- Thyroid Lobectomy
This procedure is the partial removal of the gland. It is performed when the specialists detect less-progressive cancer in the organ. On rigorous checking via tests, partial removal of the gland is proposed.
- Lymph Node Dissection
The lymph nodes situated nearby the thyroid glands might also be removed by the surgeon to ensure no spreading of cancer.
- Hormone Therapy
Once the thyroid is removed, a patient’s body will need a constant supply of hormones. It will be a lifelong medication process that a patient will have to continue.
- Radioactive Iodine
To ensure any cancerous tissue left behind, a radioactive iodine procedure is performed. Large doses of radioactive iodine are introduced for the destruction of any remaining cancerous tissue.
- External Radiation
Radiation therapy is provided by concentrating high-energy beams on the marked portions of a body.
- Chemotherapy
A specific drug treatment where chemicals are introduced in the system to kill cancer cells is called chemotherapy. It is done to kill cancer cells that might have escaped into the bloodstream.
- Targeted Drug Therapy
Targeted drugs find out cancer cells by recognizing their particular patterns different from the normal cells, stick to them, block specific functioning and kill them.
Tips To Care For a Patient After Thyroid Cancer Treatment
- Thyroid Cancer Treatment might lead to pain in the areas surrounding the thyroid gland. For instance, a patient might experience pain in the shoulders and neck region. Pain management is an important part of palliative care.
- Doctors will educate neck exercises to cope with the stiffness in the neck region.
- A patient must rest well and eat healthy food recommended by a dietician in the cancer specialty hospital.
- A patient can resume his normal life within 10 days of the surgery. If any special care is prescribed, it must be followed word by word to ward off complications.
