Treatment options
Thyroid cancer
Treatment options
Thyroid cancer is often treatable.
The treatment you have will depend on:
- the size and type of thyroid cancer you have
- if it has spread
- your general health
It will usually include surgery. It may also include hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer.
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, you may have:
- all of your thyroid removed (total thyroidectomy)
- part of your thyroid removed (partial thyroidectomy or lobectomy)
During surgery you may also have some lymph nodes (glands) in your neck removed if your cancer has or might have spread to them.
Read more about cancer surgery at Royal Surrey.
Hormone therapy
If you've had surgery to remove your thyroid, you usually need to take hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid made.
It can also help stop the cancer coming back.
You may also need to take hormone tablets if you've had part of your thyroid removed.
Learn more about hormone therapy.
Radioactive iodine treatment
Radioactive iodine treatment uses radiation to kill cancer cells.
The treatment contains a small amount of radiation that you take as a tablet or drink.
You may have radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer:
- after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind or to help stop the cancer coming back
- if the cancer has come back or spread to another part of the body
Discover more about this treatment and how it is delivered at Royal Surrey
Targeted medicines
Targeted medicines aim to stop cancer growing.
You may have treatment with targeted medicines for thyroid cancer if:
- other treatments are not an option or are no longer working
- the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays of radiation to kill cancer cells.
You may have radiotherapy for thyroid cancer if:
- the cancer cannot be removed by surgery
- the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Read more about radiotherapy at Royal Surrey Cancer Centre.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells.
It's not usually used to treat thyroid cancer, but you may have it if the cancer has come back or has spread to another part of your body.
Find out more about chemotherapy treatment at Royal Surrey Cancer Centre.