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Thyroid cancer

This page provides information about thyroid cancer and the services available through Gloucestershire NHS Hospitals.

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The thyroid is a small gland in the front, lower part of your neck. It makes and releases hormones that help with things like your digestion, muscles and heart.

Most patients are referred for specialist investigation by their GP after discovering a lump in their neck. Others may have undergone a scan for another reason, which identified a lump in the neck.

Information:

Thyroid cancer is quite rare and only around 3,900 people are diagnosed in the UK each year. It’s more common in women than in men.

What to expect from your appointments with us

You will be referred to our team and initially seen in our neck lump clinic

You will meet a consultant surgeon or one of their team who will ask you about your medical history and will examine your neck. If needed you will be referred for an ultrasound scan and a needle biopsy which could take place at the same appointment, or on a different day.

What to expect from your diagnostic tests and investigations

Thyroid cancer is diagnosed following various tests. Your medical team may request some of the following tests and investigations:

  • Ultrasound scan — An ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the internal soft tissues of the neck.
  • Biopsy — Your doctor may take a sample of your thyroid gland using a needle. This small sample of tissue will them be examined by a scientist in the laboratory. This type of biopsy can take place in one of our outpatient clinics and the doctor can numb the area with some anaesthetic spray.
  • CT scan - CT scans take pictures of your body to find out where the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. This normally takes around 10 minutes.
  • MRI scan - MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create a cross sectional picture of the body. You will have an MRI scan to see if your cancer has spread. The scan itself normally takes around 45 minutes to one hour.
  • PET scan – Positron emission tomography (PET) scan produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) images of inside the body. The images can clearly show the part of the body being investigated, including abnormal areas, and can highlight how well certain functions of the body are working.
  • Endoscope - This is a test where a thin, flexible tube with a small camera at the end is passed through the nose to check your vocal cords.
  • Surgery – we may recommend removing one half of your thyroid gland as part of the diagnosis pathway.

Treatment options and what to expect

Thyroid cancer is often treatable.

The treatment you have will depend on:

  • the size and type of thyroid cancer you have
  • if it has spread
  • your general health

It will usually include surgery. It may also include hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Surgery - Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer.

Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, you may have:

  • all of your thyroid removed (total thyroidectomy)
  • part of your thyroid removed (partial thyroidectomy or lobectomy)

During surgery you may also have some lymph nodes (glands) in your neck removed if your cancer has or might have spread to them. This is call a selective neck dissection.

Radiotherapy - Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays of radiation to destroy cancer cells.

You may have radiotherapy for thyroid cancer if:

  • the cancer cannot be removed by surgery
  • the cancer has spread to another part of the body

Our Radiotherapy pages have more detailed information.

SACT treatments

You may hear the following treatment being described as SACT, which means systemic anti-cancer therapies. These include chemotherapy and immunotherapy and are treatments that work throughout the entire body.

Hormone therapy - If you've had surgery to remove your entire thyroid, you will need to take hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid made.

It can also help stop the cancer coming back.

You may also need to take hormone tablets if you've had part of your thyroid removed.

Radioactive iodine treatment - Radioactive iodine treatment uses radiation to destroy cancer cells.

The treatment contains a small amount of radiation that you take as a tablet.

You may have radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer:

  • after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may have been left behind or to help stop the cancer coming back
  • if the cancer has come back or spread to another part of the bod

Targeted medicines - Targeted medicines aim to stop cancer growing.

You may have treatment with targeted medicines for thyroid cancer if:

  • other treatments are not an option or are no longer working
  • the cancer has spread to another part of the body

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancer cells.

It's not usually used to treat thyroid cancer, but you may have it if the cancer has come back or has spread to another part of your body.

Our support page has details of local and national cancer support organisations

Thyroid Cancer videos

Thyroid Cancer Uncovered: A Patient’s Guide

My Thyroid and Me: A Young Person’s Cancer Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJC1tQxNHOc

Living with Advanced Thyroid Cancer: Christine’s Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcS5xvjLKDE

For more information to support you to keep well before, during, and after cancer treatment please review our health and wellbeing pages

We run a thyroid cancer support group in collaboration with Maggie’s Cheltenham. To join, please contact your Cancer Support Worker, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or contact the Maggie’s Centre directly on 01242 250611

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