Fact 8: Thyroid Cancer – A Treatable Condition
A glimpse of hope in the stormy sea of thyroid cancer facts is its treatability. When it comes to survival rates among cancer types, thyroid cancer has some of the highest, boasting a five-year survival rate over 90% for most types. But let’s delve deeper into what makes thyroid cancer one of the most survivable cancers.
The cornerstone of thyroid cancer treatment is surgery, which involves removing part or all of the thyroid gland. This procedure, known as a thyroidectomy, is intricate and requires experienced surgeons due to the gland’s proximity to vital structures in the neck. Successful surgical intervention often leads to a considerable reduction in tumor size and, in many cases, complete removal, providing the patient with a path to recovery.
In addition to surgery, other treatments may be utilized, depending on the specific type and stage of the thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine therapy, for example, is commonly used after surgery to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue and to treat thyroid cancer that has spread to lymph nodes or other areas. Hormone therapy often follows, which involves taking synthetic thyroid hormone to replace what the body can no longer produce after thyroid removal.
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy also find their place in the therapeutic arsenal against thyroid cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells and is often used when the cancer is resistant to radioactive iodine treatment. Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, is typically reserved for advanced thyroid cancers that don’t respond to other treatments. Lastly, targeted therapy aims at the cancer’s specific genes or proteins contributing to its growth and survival, providing a more tailored treatment approach.
The management of thyroid cancer is not just limited to these established treatments, though. Cutting-edge research and ongoing clinical trials are continually expanding the boundaries of thyroid cancer treatment. Novel therapeutic approaches, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, have entered the scene, potentially revolutionizing the way we manage thyroid cancer. While still in their nascent stages, these therapies hold promising potential for even better outcomes, fortifying our arsenal in the fight against thyroid cancer. (8)
