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There are several types of treatments available for thyroid cancer. The type of treatment you will undergo depends on the type and stage of thyroid cancer, your preference, and your general health. Quite often, more than one type of treatment is required. The most common types of treatments are surgery, hormone therapy, radioactive iodine, external radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and palliative care.
Surgery
For most types of thyroid cancer, surgery is the first treatment. There are several surgical options to treat thyroid cancer. The surgery your doctor may suggest depends on the type of thyroid cancer you have, whether cancer has spread, and the size of cancer. Common surgical options include:
Thyroidectomy – this operation may involve removing the entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy) or most of the thyroid gland (near-total or subtotal thyroidectomy).
Thyroid lobectomy – during a thyroid lobectomy, your thyroid glands lobe with the cancerous nodule is removed.
Lymph node dissection – when your surgeon removes your thyroid, nearby lymph nodes in the neck may also be removed.
All types of surgery are performed under general anesthesia.
Hormone therapy
After surgery, thyroid hormone therapy may be necessary to replace the hormone your thyroid would normally produce. In addition, hormone therapy may slow down the growth of any remaining cancer cells. It works by suppressing your pituitary gland from producing thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Hormone therapy typically involves taking a pill daily, at the same time every day, so that your body receives a consistent supply.
Radioactive iodine
Radioactive treatment is usually used after thyroidectomy. This type of treatment is used to kill any healthy thyroid tissue that may remain, along with some areas of thyroid cancer that were not removed during surgery. It is also used to treat thyroid cancer that has spread to other areas of the body or recurs after treatment. Radioactive iodine is given in either pill or liquid form.
External radiation therapy
This is another type of radiation therapy that uses a machine that aims high-energy beams, such as protons and X-rays, at precise points on your body. It is usually suggested if surgery is not an option or if your cancer still grows even after radioactive iodine treatment or if there is a risk that your cancer will recur.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses chemicals to destroy cancer cells. It is typically given intravenously (infusion through a vein). The chemicals can travel all around your body and killing quickly growing cancer cells. This procedure is not common for thyroid cancer. However, it is sometimes recommended for those with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Targeted drug therapy
This type of treatment focuses on specific abnormalities present within the cancer cells. It can kill cancer cells by blocking these abnormalities. For thyroid cancer, this therapy targets the signals telling cancer cells to grow and divide.
Palliative care
This is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms that thyroid cancer may bring. It can be used while you undergo other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy.
After any surgical procedure, you may need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days and stay in Russian Federation for about 7 to 14 days. For hormone therapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy, your length of stay depends on how many therapy cycles are required for your case. Your medical team/medical travel team will be able to advise you on this matter.
After surgery, you will need to rest for several weeks after surgery. Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. For any type of therapy, you may need to rest for a few days until you can resume your normal activities.
Your medical team will give you special instructions to care for yourself at home after each type of treatment. The instructions may include a special diet, exercises, medications to take, restrictions, and wound care (for surgical procedures).
You may also need to attend regular checkups to ensure that cancer has not come back.
Treatment for thyroid cancer is safe and effective. In many cases, it can cure thyroid cancer completely. However, cancer may still come back even after treatment.
All types of thyroid cancer treatment carry some potential risks and side effects, including infection, bleeding, and damage to the parathyroid glands, nausea, neck pain, and swelling.
Taking part in a clinical trial of newer treatments can be an alternative to the thyroid cancer treatments mentioned above. A clinical trial is a study used to develop new treatments for cancer.
Before surgery, your thyroid cancer may cause painful symptoms. It has a high risk of spreading to other areas of your body and may be life-threatening. Having thyroid cancer can decrease your quality of life. After successful treatment, your thyroid cancer may be cured completely.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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The Russian Federation, or Russia, is a transcontinental country that stretches over a vast expanse of Eastern Europe and northern Asia. Once a mighty tsarist empire and a communist superpower, this massive country is enigmatic, intimidating, and fascinating all at the same time. It has everything, from the idyllic countryside and historic cities to scenic beauty and artistic riches. Today, Russia is a famous medical tourism destination. The number of medical tourists seeking high-quality healthcare continues to double each year. These medical tourists mainly come from Asian countries, such as China, South Korea, India, Japan, and Vietnam. They come to receive a wide range of medical care, with IVF treatment, dental services, cosmetic surgery, and cardiovascular surgery being the most sought-after.
Most visitors are drawn to the western part of the country, particularly to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscow, the capital of Russia, is popular for its show-stopping architecture, rich history, amazing culture, and great food. Some of the most famous landmarks are the St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Red Square and the Lenin Mausoleum, the Moscow Kremlin, The Tretiakov Gallery, and the Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second city and imperial capital, is one of the most gracious cities in Europe. People come to this city to visit the State Hermitage Museum, the Grand Palace, and Catherine Park.
There are four seasons in Russia. December to February are the winter months, which is cold and snowy, with short days and long nights. The average temperature during this season is around -10°C to 3°C. Spring comes in March, bringing warmer, but rainy weather. Summer, from June to August, is hot and humid, with an average temperature of around 12°C to 26°C. The weather can be quite unpredictable in the summer, and downpours can come unexpectedly. Autumn is from September to October and is warm and pleasant.
The largest airport in Russia that receive the most international flights is Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin International Airport in Moscow. It serves both domestic and international flights to many cities around the globe. Since Russia is the world’s largest territory, internal flights are the fastest and most convenient way to get around. Trains have an extensive network, and, with many comfortable overnight services, is considered as the best way to get around. Buses are a great option to travel to the areas not covered by the train. Some really remote destinations may only be reached by private cars or taxis. Taxis are relatively inexpensive and widely available.
Nationals of 62 nations, including Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, North Macedonia, and Hong Kong, can visit and stay in Russia without a visa for a period of 14 to 90 days. Citizens of other countries not listed in the visa exemption agreement need a visa to enter. Electronic visas are available for citizens of several countries, including all EU countries, China, and India.