Thyroid Cancer

This procedure removes remove cancerous cells and half of the thyroid gland to minimize risk of your cancer spreading. Medicine is sometimes prescribed following this surgery to help balance hormone levels, control metabolism, and regulate other bodily functions.

This surgery removes most or all of the thyroid gland to ensure that all cancer is removed. Afterward, you’ll be prescribed medicine to help balance your hormone levels because your body will no longer produce thyroid hormones.

If your cancer has spread (metastasized), lymph nodes in your neck that contain cancer may be removed to stop or slow the spread of the cancer. This procedure may be performed independently or as part of a thyroidectomy.

In these surgeries, cancer that has spread to other areas of the neck is removed. This may include care with head-and-neck (ENT) surgeons.

An endocrinologist may prescribe medication to adjust and control thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. It can also help prevent recurrence or progression of cancer cell growth.

These treatments are used in combination with other treatments.

• Radioactive iodine: In pill or liquid form, it is typically administered four-to-eight weeks after surgery to target and destroy thyroid cancer cells. The radiation destroys the thyroid gland and other thyroid cells -- including cancer cells -- that absorb the iodine.
• Kinase inhibitors for medullary thyroid cancer: These specially designed medications block cancer cells' ability to grow and divide. The inhibitors we use are called Vandetanib (Caprelsa) and Cabozantinib (Cometriq).
• Kinase inhibitors for metastasized thyroid cancer: If your cancer has returned or spread to other parts of your body and can't be treated with radioactive iodine, we may prescribe medication that prevents cancer cells from multiplying. The inhibitors we use are called Sorafenib (Nexavar) and Lenvatinib (Lenvima).

If your thyroid cancer returns and other treatments have proven unsuccessful, this outpatient procedure may be recommended to destroy abnormal tissue. An interventional radiologist with expertise in image-guided surgery uses ultrasound to help insert a needle into the tumor. Extreme cold or a concentrated alcohol is released to destroy the tumor growth. Your provider will discuss with you whether cryoablation or alcohol ablation is best based on the size and exact location of your thyroid cancer.