Complete Care From a Team
More expertise leads to a better outcome. That’s why some of Cone Health’s 500 cancer specialists work on your care along with doctors such as:
- Endocrinologists (specialists in the thyroid and other glands)
- Ear, nose, and throat specialists
- General surgeons
They collaborate to make a well-rounded treatment plan tailored to you.
Treating Thyroid Cancer
Your options depend on your type of thyroid cancer—papillary, follicular, medullary, or anaplastic. At Cone Health, you have access to almost any treatment you might need.
Active Surveillance
If your tumor is very small and isn’t growing, you may be able to choose active surveillance. This means your doctor will watch the cancer closely with regular ultrasounds. If the tumor grows, you can start treatment later.
Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment for many thyroid cancers. The type of surgery you have depends on the cancer’s size and whether it has spread. Options include:
- Thyroidectomy—Removes your whole thyroid
- Lobectomy—Takes out only one side of your thyroid if your tumor is small
- Lymph node removal—Treats cancer that spreads to lymph nodes in your neck
After thyroid removal, you must take thyroid hormone pills daily for the rest of your life. These pills replace the hormones your thyroid made, so your body keeps working properly. They may also help prevent cancer from coming back.
Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Therapy
RAI treatment uses a special form of iodine to destroy any thyroid cancer cells that remain after surgery. This treatment often works well for the most common types of thyroid cancer. You receive it as a pill or liquid weeks after surgery.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation uses high-energy rays to kill thyroid cancer cells if:
- Iodine therapy doesn’t work
- Surgery can’t fully remove the tumor
- Cancer spreads to other parts of your body
Look forward to a better outcome thanks to Cone Health’s radiation technology. It treats cancer while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted drugs focus on specific gene changes in thyroid cancer cells. Your doctor might prescribe them if genetic testing shows certain mutations in your tumor. These medicines could help even if other treatments don’t work.
Clinical Trials
Ask your care team if clinical trials are an option for you. They give you the chance to try new approaches to thyroid cancer care before they’re widely available. Cone Health brings them to you in the Piedmont Triad, so you don’t have to travel far for the latest treatments. If you qualify for a trial, our research staff will help you decide whether to apply and guide you throughout the study.
Lean on a Nurse Navigator for Support
Cancer care involves many appointments, tests, and treatments. Cone Health’s nurse navigators walk you through it all, so you can focus on healing. You’ll see a head and neck navigator if you get care at Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro. At our other cancer centers, you may see a general navigator who’s helped many thyroid cancer patients like you. Reach out to this expert any time you have questions or just need someone to listen.
Care for Your Whole Well-Being
Cancer affects not just your physical health, but also your mood, relationships, and daily life. You’ll feel more in control thanks to Cone Health’s many support services, including Alight integrative care. Take advantage of:
- Financial aid for treatment and a hardship fund for gas, rent, utilities, and other everyday expenses
- Support groups, classes, and events that empower you with knowledge and connect you to other patients and caregivers
- Social work services that help you cope with your diagnosis and find local resources for you and your family
- Dietary counseling to help you adjust your eating habits to your changing tastes and nutritional needs
- Survivor mentorship and pastoral care for emotional and spiritual support
