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Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer leading to uncontrollable growth of cells that starts in the thyroid. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate heartbeat, metabolism, blood pressure, and body temperature. Thyroid cancer is often diagnosed at a younger age than other adult cancers and is three times more common in women than in men.
Sometimes, the tumour can grow to invade nearby tissue and may have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. It can also come back after being treated. This condition is known as advanced thyroid cancer. Most of these types of tumours grow slowly, and some don’t grow at all. When thyroid cancer recurs, it is usually found in the first five years after the initial diagnosis.
Types of Advanced Thyroid Cancer
The following are the different types of advanced thyroid cancer:
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Papillary Thyroid Cancer: It is a slow-growing thyroid cancer which can become advanced if not detected early or if it spreads to other parts of the body.
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Medullary Thyroid Cancer: It is a rare type of thyroid cancer that begins in the thyroid cells, C cells. It is associated with genetic conditions such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome.
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Hurthle Cell Thyroid Cancer: In this cancer, tumour cells are aggressive and grow to involve structures in the neck and other parts of the body.
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Follicular Thyroid Cancer: This type of thyroid cancer usually affects people who are older than 50. The tumour can most often spread to the lungs and bones.
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Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: This type of thyroid cancer grows quickly and more aggressively. Its advanced stage is difficult to treat, but treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
Note: Usually, thyroid cancers aren’t likely to recur except papillary thyroid cancer and follicular thyroid cancer. It is essential to talk to your healthcare provider to understand if your cancer is aggressive and has an increased chance of recurring.
Symptoms of Advanced Thyroid Cancer
It is essential to go for the recommended periodic blood tests or thyroid scans to understand the signs if your cancer has returned. If you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms, you may have thyroid cancer recurrence:
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Trouble swallowing
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Neck or throat pain
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Lump in the neck
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Voice changes
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Swollen lymph nodes
What are the Surgical Approaches for Treating Advanced Thyroid Cancer?
When the cancer has spread beyond thyroid glands or surrounding structures, surgical intervention is a primary treatment option. Different surgical approaches play a significant role in managing thyroid cancer while preserving thyroid function and minimising complications.
Surgery can be a good choice for the recurrence of thyroid cancer, and its success depends on the size and location of the tumour.
Different types of surgery for advanced thyroid cancer are:
Total Thyroidectomy
A standard surgical procedure for advanced thyroid cancers where the entire tumour is removed. It is recommended for specific types of thyroid cancer, such as papillary and follicular cancers. It is necessary when the tumour is large and has spread to the nearby lymph nodes.
This surgery aims to eliminate the sources of the cancer to lower the risk of cancer spreading or recurring in the future. However, it results in the complete loss of thyroid function, and after the procedure, the individual will require thyroid hormone replacement therapy lifelong to maintain normal hormone levels.
Lobectomy
In this procedure, the surgeon removes only one lobe of the thyroid gland to remove the cancerous tissue. This surgery is often considered for small and localised thyroid cancers that are restricted to one lobe.
In lobectomy, the patient's thyroid gland can be preserved, which can produce enough thyroid hormones to maintain normal functions. Generally, patients do not require lifelong hormone replacement therapy, but some still may need this therapy with a lower dosage.
Completion Thyroidectomy
This surgical procedure is performed when, after the lobectomy, reveals the presence of additional cancerous cells.
After lobectomy, the removed thyroid tissue is examined under a microscope to detect the large tumour size, unfavourable characteristics of the tumour, and extensive lymph node involvement.
If these factors are identified in the examination, a completion thyroidectomy is performed. All remaining cancerous cells are eliminated by removing the entire thyroid gland through the completion thyroidectomy. This procedure ensures that the cancer will not come back or spread to other parts.
Individuals should undergo lifelong hormone replacement therapy after this procedure since the entire thyroid gland is removed.
Central Neck Dissection
This procedure is recommended when thyroid cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the central compartment of the neck. The purpose is to eliminate any cancer cells that have migrated from the primary tumour and are present in the lymph nodes.
Lateral Neck Dissection
This procedure is performed when thyroid cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the sides of the neck. Lateral neck dissection is generally recommended for cases of aggressive cancers or cancers that have spread beyond the thyroid gland.
Minimally Invasive Techniques
Recently, medical professionals have been using less invasive techniques, such as robotic-assisted and endoscopic procedures. These methods involve smaller incisions, special tools, and advanced imaging technology so that the surgery can be more precise with minimal scarring and quicker recovery.
Final Words
Surgical approaches are essential for managing advanced thyroid cancer that enable accurate staging, tumour removal, and improved outcomes. The healthcare provider carefully tailors each procedure according to the individual’s specific diagnosis, tumour characteristics, and stage of the disease to make the final decision. There are various medical destinations, such as India, Thailand, Turkey, etc, where patients travel for advanced thyroid treatment. India is one of the most preferred destinations due to affordable costs. The average cost of thyroid cancer treatment in India ranges from 3000 USD to 3800 USD.
So, if you are looking for affordable medical care for your advanced thyroid cancer treatment, India could be a preferred choice. It is recommended to speak to your doctor before undergoing any surgery to understand its benefits and risks.
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