How Is Medullary Thyroid Cancer Diagnosed?
Medullary thyroid cancer is often noticed during a routine examination. Your doctor may feel bumps or lumps around the throat and refer you to a thyroid specialist for further examination. Blood tests, ultrasounds, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies are among the testing options that may be recommended to diagnose your condition. If medullary thyroid cancer is suspected, your doctor may also recommend that your family members undergo testing to determine whether or not they are genetically predisposed to this disease.
Will A Biopsy Determine My Medullary Thyroid Cancer?
An FNA biopsy can test a tissue sample of your suspicious growth to determine if the growth is medullary cancer. During this procedure, a tiny needle is inserted into the growth and a small sample is removed. The sample is then sent to a pathologist for comprehensive testing. The results of your biopsy will be known within a few days.
What Are Some Common Medullary Thyroid Cancer Treatments?
Medullary thyroid cancer is commonly treated with surgery. In advanced cases where the cancer has spread to other areas, a combination of radiation therapy and anti-cancer medicines may be used to help prevent further spread and manage symptoms. Dr. Shin will work with you to develop a course of action that can best treat your medullary thyroid cancer.
| MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER TREATMENTS |
| Thyroid Cancer Surgery |
| Our thyroid surgeon will remove the entire thyroid (total thyroidectomy). If your medullary cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, these nodes will usually be removed, as well. |
| External Beam Radiation Therapy |
| External beam therapy uses radiation to destroy medullary cancer cells. Radiation is emitted from a special machine known as a linear accelerator. This machine directs radiation to the thyroid in controlled bursts. Radiation therapy may be recommended in advanced cases where your medullary thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of the body. |
| Chemotherapy |
| Chemotherapy is another treatment option used when medullary cancer has spread throughout the body. Chemo medicines attack cancer cells that quickly divide and multiply. Chemotherapy is administered orally or through an injection. |
| Targeted Therapy |
| Similar to chemotherapy, targeted therapy uses anti-cancer medicines to attack medullary cancer cells. The difference is that targeted therapy attacks the cells’ genes and proteins to stop cancer from spreading. |
| Thyroid Medicine |
| Thyroid medication is usually prescribed following medullary thyroid cancer treatment. These medications help balance your thyroid hormone levels. Certain thyroid medicines can increase thyroid hormone levels, while antithyroid medications can reduce hormone levels. |
What Can I Expect Following Medullary Cancer Surgery?
Patients who have undergone medullary thyroid cancer surgery are typically released from the hospital in 1-2 days. It is common for patients to have some discomfort when swallowing. As a result, our thyroid surgeon may recommend a liquid diet for the first few days of recovery. You should refrain from vigorous exercise and physical activities until permitted by Dr. Shin. In most cases, patients return to their daily routines within 2-3 weeks. Calcium supplements may be prescribed to prevent low calcium levels in the blood (known as hypocalcemia). Dr. Shin will discuss your post-surgery guidelines and instructions in more detail during your consultation for medullary thyroid cancer surgery.