Thyroid Cancer Treatment in Lucknow

Thyroid Cancer Treatment in Lucknow

At Apollomedics Lucknow, thyroid cancer treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team of surgical oncologists, endocrinologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and radiation oncologists. Our specialists carefully assess the type and stage of the cancer, along with the patient's overall health, to develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to their individual needs. 

What is Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid glands. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located just below Adam's apple in the neck. It is responsible for producing hormones that control heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and many more functions of the body.

Before talking about thyroid cancer, it's important to understand that most thyroid nodules are not cancerous. Thyroid nodules are quite common, especially in adults, and most of them are benign (non-cancerous). Detection of a thyroid nodule during a health check-up or ultrasound does not directly mean it's cancer. Getting it examined will help determine whether the nodule requires treatment.

In many cases, the symptoms of thyroid cancer might not be noticeable during its early stages. Most thyroid cancers, especially papillary thyroid cancer, can respond well to treatment if diagnosed early.

Types of Thyroid Cancer

Types of thyroid cancer are categorised based on the type of thyroid cells where the cancer starts. The type is determined after examination of the cancer tissue sample under a microscope. Understanding the type of cancer helps doctors decide the most suitable treatment.

• Papillary Thyroid Cancer
  This is the most common type of thyroid cancer, which can happen at any age, but is mostly found in people between 30 and 50 years of age. It grows slowly and mostly responds well to treatment, especially when diagnosed early.
• Follicular Thyroid Cancer
  Follicular thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid cancer, which usually affects people older than 50 years old. It generally grows slowly but can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and bones.
• Medullary Thyroid Cancer
  This is a rare type of thyroid cancer which starts from cells called C cells. These C cells are responsible for producing calcitonin hormone. Some cases are linked to genetic inheritance that's passed from parents to children.
• Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
  This is a rare type of thyroid cancer, which grows and spreads very fast and can be difficult to treat. Anaplastic thyroid cancer mostly happens to people older than 60 years old. It can cause symptoms like swelling of the neck, difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing.

Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

In the early stages, thyroid cancers might not have noticeable symptoms, but as the disease progresses, people can experience symptoms like:

• A lump or swelling in the neck
• Constant hoarseness or changes in voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Pain in neck and throat

Changes in the voice are one of the most common concerns among patients. The thyroid gland is located very close to the nerves which control the vocal cords. A growing thyroid tumour might affect these nerves, resulting in hoarseness or changes in voice. Protecting these nerves during thyroid surgery is one of the major concerns for the surgeons.

If someone notices a lump on their neck, hoarseness, or symptoms mostly searched as "thyroid cancer ke lakshan", they should immediately consult a specialist for proper examination. Many neck lumps are non cancerous, and timely assessment can help to rule out serious conditions.

Causes of Thyroid Cancer

The exact cause of thyroid cancer is mostly unknown. And happens when thyroid cells develop changes in their DNA. These changes or mutations cause the cells to grow uncontrollably and take the form of a lump or tumor. In many cases these changes take place without any clear reasons. But some environmental and inherited factors can be responsible for its development.

Getting exposed to radiation especially during childhood, and inherited genetic mutations can be the causes for thyroid cancer.

Risk Factors

Many factors can increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer, but having one or more of these risk factors does not mean that a person will have thyroid cancer.

• Radiation exposure: Radiation therapy to the head or neck, particularly during childhood, can significantly increase the risk.
• Family history: A family history of thyroid cancer, like medullary thyroid cancer, can increase the chances of having thyroid cancer.
• Gender: Thyroid cancer happens more in women than in men. Experts believe it might be related to the estrogen hormone.
• Inherited genetic syndromes: Some inherited conditions like Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) syndrome can lead to medullary thyroid cancer.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer

Diagnosis of thyroid cancer involves a combination of physical examination, ultrasound, and biopsy. As most thyroid nodules are non-cancerous, these inspections help to differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous nodules.

Physical Examination

The doctor will examine the neck to check for an enlarged thyroid, lumps, or swollen lymph nodes. They will also review the medical history, symptoms, and any family history of thyroid disease or cancer.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound of the neck is mostly the first imaging test done by the doctors. It helps to understand the shape, size, and appearance of the thyroid nodules and nearby lymph nodes. The ultrasound report does not detect cancer; it helps identify nodules that might require further testing.

Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy

A fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is the most important test to determine whether the nodule is cancerous. This is a small, minimally invasive procedure in which a thin needle is inserted into the thyroid nodule, mostly under ultrasound guidance, to collect a small sample of cells. The sample is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This process takes only a few minutes and requires little to no recovery time.

Cancer Staging

When compared with other thyroid cancers, papillary thyroid cancer mostly has a favourable prognosis, particularly when diagnosed early and treated properly. But keep in mind that every patient's condition is unique and treatment is based on factors like cancer type, stage, age, and overall health.

Treatment Options

The treatment plan for thyroid cancer depends on factors like cancer type, stage, age, whether it has spread, and overall health. At Apollomedics Lucknow, treatment is tailored to each patient's condition using evidence-based guidelines and a multidisciplinary approach.

Thyroidectomy (Partial or Total)

Surgery is the treatment for most thyroid cancers. But depending on the size and extent of the cancer, doctors might recommend:

• Lobectomy (Partial Thyroidectomy): Removal of the affected portion of the thyroid gland.
• Total Thyroidectomy: Complete removal of the thyroid gland, mostly recommended for larger, bilateral, or high-risk cancers.

The most common concern among patients is that their voice will be affected due to surgery. The thyroid gland is situated close to the vocal cords and the nerves that control them. But experienced surgeons take special care to preserve these nerves during surgery. The risk of voice changes is reduced with modern nerve monitoring and nerve preservation techniques.

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

Some patients might require radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy after the surgery, especially when there is a risk of remaining thyroid cells. In this treatment, a small amount of radioactive iodine is taken as a capsule or in liquid form. Thyroid cells naturally absorb iodine, which allows the treatment to target and eliminate any remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells.

Not every thyroid cancer patient needs radioactive iodine therapy. The specialist will recommend it, if required.

Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy

In case of total thyroidectomy, where all or most of the thyroid gland gets removed. The body won't be able to produce enough thyroid hormone. Then daily thyroid hormone replacement tablets are provided to the patients.

For many people, this becomes a simple part of their daily routine and is not considered any alarming complication.

Radiation Therapy or Chemotherapy

For most thyroid cancers, radiation therapy or chemotherapy is not regularly used. These treatment options can be considered in patients with advanced, aggressive, or recurrent thyroid cancers. Like anaplastic thyroid cancer, where surgery or radioactive iodine alone is not enough.

Recovery & Follow-up

The recovery after treatment can differ from one patient to another; this depends on the type of surgery and therapies received. Some patients can go back to their normal day-to-day activities within a few weeks after surgery, and some can take longer to recover.

Regular follow-ups are an important part of long-term management. Doctors continue monitoring thyroid hormone levels through blood tests, and can also recommend neck ultrasounds from time to time to check for any signs of the cancer returning.

Why Choose Apollomedics

• Complete Thyroid Cancer Care: 
  Starting from diagnosis and staging to surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, and long-term follow-up, all aspects of thyroid cancer care are available under one roof.
• Experienced Multidisciplinary Team: 
  Patients can benefit from the expertise of surgical oncologists, endocrinologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and other healthcare professionals who come together to create personalised treatment plans.
• Advanced Diagnostic Facilities: 
  High-resolution neck ultrasound, Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and other advanced diagnostic services help to make sure of accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Advanced Thyroid Surgery with Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring (IONM): 
  Apollomedics uses Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring (IONM) during thyroid surgery to identify and protect the vocal cords controlling nerves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is a thyroid nodule usually cancerous?

Ans: No, most of the thyroid nodules are non-cancerous.

Q2. What does a thyroidectomy involve?

Ans: Thyroidectomy involves a surgical procedure to remove the thyroid gland partially or completely.

Q3. Will I lose my voice after thyroid surgery?

Ans: Permanent voice loss is very rare because the surgeons use advanced surgical techniques and nerve preservation methods to minimise the risk.

Q4. What is the difference between papillary and follicular thyroid cancer?

Ans: Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type and grows slowly. Follicular thyroid cancer is rare and might rapidly spread through the bloodstream.

Q5. Will I need thyroid hormone replacement after surgery?

Ans: This depends on how much of the thyroid gland is removed. If all of it is removed, then yes, you will need lifelong thyroid replacement hormone, and if partially, then your body might produce the hormone naturally.

Q6. How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

Ans: Diagnosis involves physical examination, neck ultrasound, and Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsy.

Q7. What increases the risk of thyroid cancer?

Ans: Some of the known risks are radiation exposure to the head and neck, family history of thyroid cancer, and certain inherited genetic syndromes.

Q8. Is thyroid cancer treatable?

Ans: Yes. Many thyroid cancers, especially papillary thyroid cancer, are highly treatable if diagnosed early.

Q9. How is thyroid cancer staged?

Ans: Thyroid cancer is staged from Stage I to Stage IV based on the tumour size, lymph node involvement, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body or not.

Q10. What is radioactive iodine therapy?

Ans: Radioactive iodine therapy is a treatment used after surgery in some patients to destroy remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells.