Thyroid cancer treatment

Thyroid cancer is highly treatable, and most people diagnosed with it have an excellent outlook if the cancer hasn’t spread. Treatments vary based on your case and health history. For example, if you have a small papillary cancer, your care team may recommend a watchful waiting approach to assess if there are any changes before recommending surgery or other treatment. Your condition could be monitored through blood tests and ultrasound a couple of times a year.

For cancer that requires treatment, surgeons may perform a thyroidectomy to remove the thyroid gland. More than one type of treatment may be required, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and radiation. Overall, your thyroid cancer treatment options depend on the type and stage of your thyroid cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.

Penn Medicine’s medical and radiation oncologists are experts in treating advanced thyroid cancer. Our research led to FDA approval of treatments that have become the standard of care for thyroid patients and deliver successful outcomes.

Who treats thyroid cancer?

A multidisciplinary thyroid cancer care team combines the expertise of various specialists to provide you with the best possible care. This team includes:

• Endocrinologists and oncologists: These doctors diagnose and treat thyroid cancer using medication, radiation, and other therapies. Some may specialize in specific areas like medical oncology or surgical oncology. 
• Endocrine surgeons and otorhinolaryngologists: These surgeons are highly skilled in performing thyroid cancer removal procedures and have extensive experience managing head and neck cancers. 
• Pathologists and radiologists: These specialists provide critical diagnostic support by analyzing tissue samples and using imaging techniques to assess the cancer.

By bringing together specialists from different disciplines, your Penn Medicine care team can offer a more well-rounded perspective on your care. This ensures all aspects of your treatment are considered, from diagnosis and surgery to ongoing management.

Our surgeons are experts in preserving critical structures in the neck during thyroid surgery, including the laryngeal nerve (controls vocal cord muscles), parathyroid glands (regulates calcium and phosphorous), voice box (produces sound), and windpipe (warms and moistens air). This minimizes the risk of side effects, which could include:

• Hoarseness 
• Loss of voice 
• Nerve weakness 
• Tingling (due to low calcium) 
• Trouble swallowing

However, if you do experience any of these side effects, you’re not alone. Penn Medicine’s speech-language pathology experts provide specialized speech and swallowing therapy to help regain strength and restore function after surgery.

After treatment for thyroid cancer, you’ll have follow-up exams with our experts which may include:

• Blood tests to monitor thyroid hormone and certain protein levels 
• Imaging tests of your neck (ultrasound) to look for suspicious nodules, lumps, or lymph nodes 
• A radioiodine scan to look for remaining thyroid cancer cells

We offer cancer support services for thyroid cancer during and after treatment to help you heal and recover. These services include education about what to expect after treatment, support groups, and counseling.