Thyroid cancer
is ultimately a cancer of the thyroid glands, which are located within the neck of your body. Much like any other form of cancer, treatment options are often dictated by the type and stage of the disease. For most people, especially in less advanced stages of thyroid cancer, surgical removal of a portion or all of the thyroid is usually the first line of defense. This procedure is often followed with some form of radiotherapy, such as radioactive iodine therapy or external beam radiation.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy
When radioactive iodine therapy is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer, a fairly large dose of radioactive iodine is orally administered into the body to damage those thyroid cells left after surgery. Often referred to as simply RAI, this form of treatment is rather effective, since these particular glands use iodine in the production of certain hormones. Once the oral solution is ingested, the thyroid actually absorbs the iodine, allowing the radioactive material to better penetrate the glands as well as any other thyroid cells. Over time, these cells are damaged and destroyed, and can frequently reduce the chances of recurrence.
According to the American Cancer Society, the use of radioactive iodine therapy actually improves the chances of survival from thyroid cancer, especially in cases of both papillary thyroid cancer and follicular thyroid cancer. A recent study performed by the Department of Clinical Oncology in Hong Kong showed that RAI treatment reduced the chances of residual disease after surgery. Another study done by the Department of Radiology in Cincinnati demonstrated that success was seen in 74 percent of patients with metastases of the lymph nodes and 86 percent of patients with nodal metastases, further supporting the effectiveness of treatment. Other forms of thyroid cancer are less conclusive, so talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
External Beam Radiation
With external beam radiation, ionized energy is directed onto the affected cells to destroy the abnormal tissue and kill the cancer. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment is usually administered for five consecutive days for a number of weeks or even months. Often administered in conjunction with radioactive iodine therapy after surgery, this form of treatment can also go a long way to increasing your survival rate. According to another study, between 62 and 78 percent of patients receiving external beam radiation therapy were "relapse free" after five years, making this form of treatment another important option for thyroid cancer.
Tags: thyroid cancer, iodine therapy, radioactive iodine, after surgery, external beam radiation, form treatment, percent patients