In most cases, treatments are successful in curing or controlling papillary thyroid cancer. Surgery is the main treatment option for this disease, though doctors may also recommend radiation therapy.
Treatments for papillary thyroid cancer usually involve surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
People may also have radioactive iodine or radiation therapy, and in some cases, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
This article looks at the different treatments for papillary thyroid cancer and their side effects.
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Papillary thyroid cancer is a subtype of thyroid cancer. In most cases, doctors will use treatments that
If curing thyroid cancer is less likely, treatments aim to prevent the condition from spreading or returning.
In such cases, treatment will instead focus on relieving symptoms.
People with papillary thyroid cancer
Surgery is the
- Thyroidectomy: A thyroidectomy removes all or almost all of the thyroid gland. This is the most common type of surgery for thyroid cancer.
- Lobectomy: A lobectomy removes part of the thyroid gland that contains the cancer. This may be suitable for small tumors and cancers that have not spread outside of the thyroid.
- Lymph node removal: This type of surgery removes lymph nodes in the neck if they are enlarged or cancerous.
Anyone who has a thyroidectomy will need to take
Learn more about thyroid gland removal.
Risks and side effects
Risks and side effects of thyroid surgery
- hoarseness or loss of voice, which may be temporary or permanent
- damage to the parathyroid glands, causing low blood calcium levels, which may lead to numbness, tingling, and muscle spasms
- excessive bleeding
- a blood clot in the neck
- an infection
Thyroid tissue is the
People take radioactive iodine (RAI) by mouth. The substance collects in thyroid tissue and any thyroid cancer cells in the body. The radiation in the iodine kills the cancer cells without harming the rest of the body.
People
Individuals may have radioactive iodine to treat
Risks and side effects
The potential risks and side effects of RAI therapy
- tenderness or swelling of the neck or salivary glands
- nausea
- vomiting
- dry mouth
- changes in taste
- dry eyes
- low sperm count
- irregular periods for up to a year after RAI therapy
- slightly increased risk of leukemia, stomach cancer, or salivary gland cancer, although this is rare
People will give off radiation for a period of time after RAI therapy. Therefore, to protect others, they may need to stay in the hospital or isolate for a few days after treatment.
In
Explore where you should stay after radioactive iodine treatment.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) uses a machine to deliver a radiation beam to destroy cancer cells.
According to the
Doctors may also use it alongside other treatments to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. They may do this for people whose cancer has spread beyond the thyroid gland and younger individuals with aggressive cancer.
Doctors can use EBRT as an adjuvant therapy — which comes after the initial treatment — for thyroid cancer.
They will use the technique to help prevent the disease from recurring after surgery.
It is particularly suitable for older adults with cancer that spreads beyond the thyroid and in younger patients with aggressive forms of the disease that may have spread following surgery.
People may have EBRT 5 days a week over the course of several weeks. The technique does not cause pain and is similar to having an X-ray.
Risks and side effects
Possible risks and side effects of radiation therapy
- dry mouth
- difficulty swallowing
- hoarse voice
- fatigue
- temporary skin changes that appear similar to sunburn
- damage to surrounding healthy tissue
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells or prevent them from dividing and multiplying.
People
Doctors
However, they may recommend chemotherapy alongside other treatments in people with advanced thyroid cancer.
Risks and side effects
Possible side effects and risks of chemotherapy
- hair loss
- loss of appetite
- mouth sores
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- an increased risk of infections
- easy bruising or bleeding
- fatigue
These side effects are usually temporary and go away when chemotherapy treatment stops.
Doxorubicin, Paclitaxel, and platinum chemotherapy agents are among the most common chemotherapy drugs for treating thyroid cancer.
Additionally, a person needs regular monitoring during this treatment because of the risk of side effects.
Targeted therapy uses drugs that specifically target cancer cells to attack them. They
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are oral pills and a type of targeted therapy for thyroid cancer.
Doctors prescribe these drugs more commonly than traditional chemotherapy due to their effectiveness.
Additionally, healthcare professionals may recommend immunotherapy-targeted therapy.
Risks and side effects
Possible risks and side effects of targeted therapy
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- skin rash
- nausea
- high blood pressure
- bleeding
Other potential treatments for papillary thyroid cancer
- Thyroid hormone therapy: This blocks thyroid-stimulating hormone production to prevent cancer cells from growing.
- Immunotherapy: A treatment to support the immune system in attacking cancer cells.
- Watchful waiting: Doctors may carefully monitor thyroid cancer before administering treatment if they believe the risks of treatment may outweigh the benefits.
- Clinical trials: Taking part in clinical trials can help find new and improved cancer treatments.
The main treatment for papillary thyroid cancer is surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid, depending on the stage of the disease. If people have a thyroidectomy, they will need to take thyroid hormone medication.
In addition to surgery, individuals may also have RAI or radiation therapy as adjuvant therapy to lower the risk of cancer returning after surgery. For advanced cancers, people may also have chemotherapy or targeted therapy.