Thyroid cancer treatment

Treatment of thyroid cancer depends on a variety of factors, including the type and stage of cancer, as well as your overall health and personal preferences. At Advocate Health Care, our goal is keep you feeling well throughout treatment without major changes to your usual routine.

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Surgery

Surgery is the most frequently used treatment for thyroid cancer. During the procedure, called a thyroidectomy, all or part of your thyroid gland is removed. Your surgeon may also remove lymph nodes in the neck area and tissue around the thyroid gland, depending on the size and location of the tumor.

Radioactive iodine ablation

The thyroid gland and most thyroid cancers absorb iodine. Radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation is used to destroy any thyroid tissue that’s left after a thyroidectomy. The iodine goes to the thyroid tissue and the radiation destroys it. It may also be used for cancer that spreads to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Thyroid hormone therapy

If all of your thyroid gland was removed, you’ll take thyroid hormone pills. The pills also help stop remaining cancer cells from growing and returning by lowering the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

For less common or more advanced thyroid cancers, your personal treatment plan may include radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Advocate offers the latest and most effective options, which maximize treatment to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue and minimizing side effects.