Thyroid Cancer
A big issue hiding in a small gland
Our approach to thyroid cancer care
A thyroid cancer diagnosis can be life changing. We take a comprehensive, compassionate approach to your treatment with a team of highly skilled specialists and cutting-edge technology.
Our goal is to provide you with the best possible care and support throughout your journey. By working together, we can help you regain your health and well-being.
Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer doesn't usually cause symptoms and can go unnoticed. Often, it's discovered during imaging tests for something else.
When symptoms are present, the most common is a lump or swelling in your neck. Other symptoms include:
- pain or difficulty swallowing
- hoarse voice
When to seek care
We know that any cancer diagnosis can be scary, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. We work toward your diagnosis with:
- Thorough workups: We’ll perform a physical exam and imaging tests to get a clear picture of your condition.
- Biopsy testing: We remove a small sample of tissue from your thyroid gland to help us determine the type and stage of your cancer.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your doctor with any questions or concerns.
Our treatment options
We're committed to providing you with the best possible care, tailored to your individual needs. Our personalized approach considers your symptoms, risks, and health to develop a treatment plan that's right for you.
Treatment options include:
- Active surveillance: If you have very low-risk thyroid cancer, you may not need treatment right away. We'll closely watch the cancer for any signs of growth.
- Surgery: If treatment is necessary, you'll probably have a procedure to remove part or all your thyroid gland. In some cases, we may need to remove some lymph nodes to check for cancer.
- Radioactive iodine: After surgery, this treatment will destroy any remaining thyroid tissue.
- Thyroid hormone therapy: After surgery, you'll take a daily pill to replace the hormones that your thyroid gland used to make. It also can help prevent the cancer from returning.
In some cases, additional treatments may be recommended, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy with specialized medications. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
Tests and treatments for thyroid cancer
To diagnose thyroid cancer, your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. You may have tests, including:
- blood test to check your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level
- thyroid ultrasound
- thyroid scan
- thyroid uptake scan
If tests show that cancer is possible, you may have:
- Fine needle biopsy: this removes a small sample of tissue to check for cancer cells.
- Molecular tests: These tests look at cells from your biopsy.
- Surgery: Sometimes the results of a biopsy or other tests aren't enough, and surgery is needed.
Meet our experts
A collaborative team of endocrinologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists — all here for you.