If thyroid cancer is diagnosed, further tests may be done to learn about the stage of the disease and help the doctors plan appropriate treatment. Treatment Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage. The patient's age and general health status are also taken into account. If the cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body, surgical removal is the usual treatment. If the adjoining lymph nodes are affected, they may also be removed during surgery.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Because the thyroid cells take up iodine, the radioactive iodine collects in any thyroid tissue remaining in the body and kills the cancer cells. Hormone therapy uses hormones to stop the cancer cells from growing. TSH stimulates the thyroid cells to grow. This stimulation would also induce growth of the cancerous thyroid cells. To prevent cancerous growth, the natural hormones that are produced by the thyroid are taken in the form of pills.