Thyroid Cancer Cure

For the treatment of thyroid cancer, surgery is almost always needed. Depending on the type of tumor you have, you may receive one of the following treatments:

• Treatment with radioactive iodine : only in papillary and follicular thyroid cancer
• External irradiation : only in specific cases and occasionally in metastases
• Targeted therapy : Only when the cancer is sown

In addition to the above treatments, you can sometimes participate in research trials. For example, you will receive a new treatment or combination of treatments where doctors are doing research. With this medical scientific research, doctors or a new treatment test is better than standard treatment.

Most patients with thyroid cancer cure completely after proper treatment. More than 80-90% of patients are still alive 15 years later. However, there are patients at increased risk of tumor recurrence.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma

These forms of thyroid cancer can usually be treated well with surgery followed by radioactive iodine therapy. Most patients are cured after treatment and do not recover the disease.

Medulla thyroid carcinoma

This form of thyroid cancer is treated with extensive surgery, possibly followed by irradiation. The chance of healing the medullary thyroid carcinoma depends on the stage in which the disease is discovered.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

The anaplastic thyroid carcinoma occurs very little. When the disease is discovered, cure is often no longer possible. That's because these forms of thyroid cancer are very aggressive. The tumor grows very quickly. Per patient is considered which treatment and support options are possible.

Treatment of sowing

The thyroid carcinoma can sow. Treatment options for seedlings are:

• operation. Is thyroid carcinoma sown to the lymph nodes? Then they will be removed, if possible. An operation is also a possible treatment for extensions elsewhere in the body.
• Treatment with radioactive iodine
• External radiation

Is there still rapid growth despite treatment? Then palliative treatment can be considered with targeted therapy , such as sorafinib. These are agents that counteract the creation of new blood vessels or otherwise affect the functioning of the cell. These resources are only given after consultation with a specialized hospital, possibly in a study.

Chemotherapy is not recommended for thyroid cancer.

Multidisciplinary consultation

Your doctor will discuss your medical history with a team of specialist doctors and nurses. This is called multidisciplinary consultation (MDO). In many hospitals in the Netherlands, doctors also involve specialists from other hospitals in multidisciplinary consultation.

Treatment plan

Your treatment doctor together with some other specialists will prepare a treatment plan for you. They use national guidelines for this.

In order to provide the best possible treatment, it is important to know:

• Which stage and features the tumor has
• Whether there is inherited taxation
• Whether there are sowing

But your personal situation also plays a role. A treatment plan is therefore tailored. Therefore, please let us know about the treatment options so that you can make an informed decision with your treatment team.

Discuss treatment proposal

After the multidisciplinary consultation, the doctor will discuss a treatment proposal with you. During this conversation you can also discuss your wishes and expectations. In some situations your doctor will give you a choice. Each and every decision has pros and cons. Discuss with your doctor. With your questions, you can also contact a (specialized) nurse.

Purpose of treatment

A treatment can be aimed at cure, but also on the inhibition of the disease. The doctor will look at you with the possibilities in your situation.

Curative treatment

If healing is the goal, then this is a curative treatment. Part thereof may be an additional treatment: an adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant treatment

An adjuvant treatment is an additional treatment. You will receive this after an earlier treatment that is cured intentionally. The adjuvant treatment is intended to achieve a better end result. An example of adjuvant treatment is irradiation after surgery.

Neo-adjuvant treatment

A neo-adjuvant treatment is similar to the adjuvant treatment. It is also aimed at a better end result. Neo adjuvant means that you receive this additional treatment before the other treatment. An example is chemotherapy or radiation to reduce the tumor before surgery.

Palliative treatment

If healing is not possible, you can get a palliative treatment. This treatment is aimed at inhibiting the disease or preventing or combating complaints. For example, a palliative treatment may be directed towards pain relief.