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Treatment for Thyroid Cancer

Surgery

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for thyroid cancer. If surgery is required, it is important to find an experienced surgeon to ensure the procedure is performed safely and gives you the best chance for cure and long-term survival. Treating patients with thyroid cancer is a main focus of the U-M Endocrine Surgery Division, where we use the newest techniques both in and out of the operating room.

Surgical options range from removing only the side of the thyroid gland that contains the nodule to removing the entire thyroid gland. U-M is one of only a few major medical centers in the United States offering minimally invasive video-assisted surgery for the treatment of thyroid disease, which may be an option in certain cases, including patients with indeterminate nodules that need to be removed.

Our surgeons will discuss the appropriate choices with you, always ensuring that your surgery is performed in the safest manner possible. We use the most advanced surgical techniques including intraoperative nerve monitoring to help preserve the quality of the patient's voice and ultrasonic technology to decrease bleeding and operative time.

Radioactive Iodine and Hormone Replacement Therapy

After surgery, many patients receive radioactive iodine treatment to get rid of any microscopic amounts of remaining thyroid cancer.

After this, daily thyroid hormone replacement therapy can be started. It is important to follow up with your physician on a regular basis to ensure the cancer has not recurred. We utilize state-of-the art radiological imaging and Thyrogen? testing to evaluate patients for recurrence.

External Beam Therapy and Clinical Trials

For patients who cannot be treated adequately by standard therapies, we offer clinical trials and/or external beam radiotherapy where appropriate. The appropriate care, including diagnostic testing, the initial surgery and subsequent management, is discussed at our weekly Tumor Board meetings.

Symptom Management and Other Support

Throughout treatment, our patients have access to Patient/Family Support Services, which includes Complementary Therapies Program, Nutrition Services, Symptom Management & Supportive Care Program and more! Please take time to visit the For Cancer Center Patients area of this website. We outline the services available to our patients at every point in their care.

Still have questions?

The nurses at Cancer AnswerLine™ have answers. Call 1-800-865-1125 and you'll get a personal response from one of our registered nurses, who have years of experience in caring for people with cancer.

 

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