Treatment of papillary thyroid cancer

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Treatment of papillary thyroid cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer is treated according to the stage of the cancer.

Stage I and II

The following are treatment options for stage I and II papillary thyroid cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.

Surgery

Surgery is the primary treatment for stage I and II papillary thyroid cancer. The type of surgery depends on the size of the tumour. A few lymph nodes may be removed at the time of the surgery, but a more extensive lymph node dissection is not usually needed. The types of surgery are:

lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy)
There are fewer complications following a lobectomy than a thyroidectomy, but there also is a greater risk of the cancer recurring.
sub-total or near-total thyroidectomy
This surgery may be offered to remove the affected lobe and part of the opposite lobe of the thyroid.
total thyroidectomy
This surgery removes as much of the thyroid gland as possible.
There is a higher risk of complications following a total thyroidectomy than a lobectomy, but there is a lower risk of recurrence.

Radiation therapy

Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy may be offered for stage I and II papillary thyroid cancer to destroy any cancer cells that may have been left behind after surgery.

Hormonal therapy

Hormonal therapy is given after surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer recurring (adjuvant therapy). It is continued for life to replace the hormones that normally would be made by the thyroid gland (replacement therapy). A daily dose of thyroid hormone is given to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels and allow for normal body metabolism. By maintaining normal (or slightly elevated) levels of thyroid hormones, the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion is suppressed. Lowering the amount of TSH reduces the chance of recurrence.

Stage III

The following are treatment options for stage III papillary thyroid cancer.

Surgery

A total thyroidectomy is usually done to remove as much of the thyroid gland as possible.