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SUPPORT SERVICES ABOUT HOW TO HELP ABOUT ThyCa To view
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Thyroid Cancer Types, Stages and Treatment Overview In addition to
the material on this page, the Newly
Diagnosed section has about 30 subsections related to treatment
of different types of thyroid cancer. The following information was obtained from the National Cancer Institute. Table of Contents
Thyroid Cancer Information in Spanish More Details About Treatments and Side Effects Staging System of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC): The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system is the most common system for staging thyroid cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. "T" stands for tumor, "N" stands for spread to lymph, "M" is for metastasis (spread to distant locations). Prognosis
of Patients with Papillary or Follicular Thyroid Cancer Guidelines from American Thyroid Association (2006). The guidelines cover diagnosis, surgery, staging, radioiodine ablation, post-therapy scans, TSH suppression, thyroglobulin testing, ultrasound, RAI scans, other imaging techniques, metastatic disease, and many other topics. The thyroid cancer specialist physicians who developed the guidelines included many ThyCa medical advisors and conference and workshop speakers. What is cancer of the thyroid? Cancer of the thyroid is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is at the base of the throat. It has two lobes, one on the right side and one on the left. The thyroid gland makes important hormones that help the body function normally. Cancer of the thyroid is more common in women than in men. Most patients are between 25 and 65 years old. People who have been exposed to large amounts of radiation, or who have had radiation treatment for medical problems in the head and neck have a higher chance of getting thyroid cancer. The cancer may not occur until 20 years or longer after radiation treatment. A doctor should be seen if there is a lump or swelling in the front of the neck or in other parts of the neck. If there are symptoms, a doctor will feel the patient's thyroid and check for lumps in the neck. The doctor may order blood tests and special scans to see whether a lump in the thyroid is making too many hormones. The doctor may want to take a small amount of tissue from the thyroid. This is called a biopsy. To do this, a small needle is inserted into the thyroid at the base of the throat and some tissue is drawn out. The tissue is then looked at under a microscope to see whether it contains cancer. There are four main types of cancer of the thyroid (based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope): papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the type of thyroid cancer, whether it is just in the thyroid or has spread to other parts of the body (stage), and the patient's age and overall health. Some types of thyroid cancer grow much faster than others. The genes in our cells carry the hereditary information from our parents. An abnormal gene has been found in patients with some forms of thyroid cancer. If medullary thyroid cancer is found, the patient may have been born with a certain abnormal gene which may have led to the cancer. Family members may have also inherited this abnormal gene. Tests have been developed to determine who has the genetic defect long before any cancer appears. It is important that the patient and his or her family members (children, grandchildren, parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews) see a doctor about tests that will show if the abnormal gene is present. These tests are confidential and can help the doctor help patients. Family members, including young children, who don't have cancer, but do have this abnormal gene, may reduce the chance of developing medullary thyroid cancer by having surgery to safely remove the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy). Stages of cancer of the thyroid Once cancer of the thyroid is found (diagnosed), more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. A doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for papillary cancers of the thyroid: Cancer is only in the thyroid and may be found in one or both lobes. In patients younger than 45 years of age:
In patients older than 45 years of age:
Cancer is found in patients older than 45 years of age and has spread outside the thyroid (but not outside of the neck) or has spread to the lymph nodes. Cancer is found in patients older than 45 years of age and has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and bones. The following stages are used for follicular cancers of the thyroid: Cancer is only in the thyroid and may be found in one or both lobes. In patients younger than 45 years of age:
In patients older than 45 years of age:
Cancer is found in patients older than 45 years of age and has spread outside the thyroid (but not outside of the neck) or to the lymph nodes. Cancer is found in patients older than 45 years of age and has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and bones. Other types or stages of thyroid cancer include the following: Cancer is less than 1 centimeter (about 1/2 inch) in size. Cancer is between 1 and 4 centimeters (about 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches) in size. Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to other parts of the body. There is no staging system for anaplastic cancer of the thyroid. This type of cancer of the thyroid grows faster than the other types. Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the thyroid or in another part of the body. How cancer of the thyroid is treated There are treatments for all patients with cancer of the thyroid. Four types of treatment are used:
Surgery is the most common treatment of cancer of the thyroid. A doctor may remove the cancer using one of the following operations:
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation for cancer of the thyroid may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from drinking a liquid that contains radioactive iodine. Because the thyroid takes up iodine, the radioactive iodine collects in any thyroid tissue remaining in the body and kills the cancer cells. Hormone therapy uses hormones to stop cancer cells from growing. In treating cancer of the thyroid, hormones can be used to stop the body from making other hormones that might make cancer cells grow. Hormones are usually given as pills. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells outside the thyroid. Treatment of cancer of the thyroid depends on the type and stage of the disease, and the patient's age and overall health. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in many parts of the country for some patients with cancer of the thyroid. To learn more about clinical trials, call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237); TTY at 1-800-332-8615. STAGE I PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE I FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE II PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE II FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE III PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE III FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE IV PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
STAGE IV FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER Treatment may be one of the following:
Treatment will probably be surgery to remove the entire thyroid (total thyroidectomy) unless the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. If lymph nodes in the neck contain cancer, the lymph nodes in the neck will be removed (lymph node dissection). If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be given. Treatment may be one of the following:
The choice of treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer the patient has, the kind of treatment the patient had before, and where the cancer comes back. Treatment may be one of the following:
Last updated: August 03, 2008 |
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