As with all cancers, treatment for thyroid cancer is usually coordinated by a cancer care team, which may include:

• Endocrinologist. A physician who specializes in diseases of the glands.
  
  
• Otolaryngologist. A physician who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders.
  
  
• Radiation oncologist. A physician who specializes in the use of radiation to treat cancer.
  
  
• Medical oncologist. A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs.
  
  
• Surgical oncologist. A physician who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer.

After thyroid cancer is diagnosed and staged, a treatment plan will be recommended. Treatment methods are chosen based on the type, size, location, and stage of the cancer, as well as the patient’s age and general health.

The treatment approach for thyroid cancer usually combines two or more methods, and most patients are cured with this approach. In some cases, treatment may be used to relieve symptoms, even if it does not result in a cure.

Common treatment methods for thyroid cancer include:

• Surgery. This is the primary treatment for all types of thyroid cancer. When a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy suggests thyroid cancer, the patient will usually have the tumor and all or part of the remaining thyroid gland surgically removed. When nearly all of the thyroid gland is removed, the procedure is known as near–total or subtotal thyroidectomy. It may be recommended in cases where cancer is located in both lobes of the thyroid gland (multifocal) or when the cancer is aggressive. This procedure is common in cases of papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma.
  
  In other cases, the surgeon may only remove the affected lobe of the thyroid gland. Known as a lobectomy, this procedure may be used for papillary tumors smaller than one centimeter (about 1/2 inch), that show no evidence of spreading beyond the thyroid gland. When cancer has spread beyond the thyroid gland, surgery is typically used to remove as much of the cancer as possible from the tumor that has invaded the neck (debulk). This procedure is common in cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma.
  
  When lymph nodes are thought to contain cancer, they are usually removed as well. In some cases, only one or two lymph nodes will be removed. More commonly, several lymph nodes located near the thyroid gland will be removed (central compartment neck dissection). The removal of additional lymph nodes, including the nodes on the side of the neck, is known as a modified neck dissection.
  
  
• Radioactive iodine therapy. The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the blood. Radioactive iodine may be used to destroy a cancer containing thyroid gland, without affecting other parts of the body. Currently, the procedure is not used to treat anaplastic carcinoma or medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
  
  
• External beam radiation therapy. This form of radiation therapy is used to destroy the cells and slow their growth. External beam radiation therapy may be used when radioactive iodine therapy has not been effective or cannot be used. In some cases, it may also be used after surgery to reduce the chances of the cancer reappearing in the neck.
  
  
• Chemotherapy. This treatment method uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs are either injected or taken by mouth. Although it is not very effective against thyroid cancers, chemotherapy is occasionally used when cancers no longer respond to other treatment methods.
  
  
• Thyroid hormone therapy. All patients with thyroid cancer are treated with thyroid hormone therapy. The therapy may be used to prevent cancer cells from growing or to provide the body with hormones it is lacking. When a patient’s thyroid gland is surgically removed or destroyed, the patient’s body is no longer able to produce the thyroid hormone it needs. As a result, the patient must take thyroid hormone replacement pills for the rest of his or her life to replace the hormone.
  
  The majority of patients take this medication to keep their TSH levels low. TSH is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland. It promotes growth of the thyroid gland, and presumable thyroid cancer cells. Therefore it is important to keep TSH levels low because having high levels could stimulate the growth of any remaining cancer cells.

After treatment, patients are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices. This may include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol use, exercising and eating a nutritious and balanced diet. In addition, patients are required to have follow-up examinations and possible tests.

Thyroid cancers grow slowly and may recur decades after treatment, which makes follow-up care particularly important. Regular follow-up exams may involve blood tests, x-rays, and CAT scans to monitor for recurrence, metastasis, or the development of a new tumor. Patients are encouraged to immediately report any new or continuing symptoms to their physician. Such symptoms may be a sign of recurrence or side effects of treatment.