The Thyroid Cancer Support Center

The Journey:
Just Found Out
Dealing With It
Recover & Thrive
Worst Case

Facing the Initial Impact of Thyroid Cancer

Top

Thyroid Cancer


Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like thyroid cancer, you are never alone. Countless men and women, and some children, have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best thyroid cancer resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this thyroid cancer guide even more helpful to survivors like you. 



JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Thyroid Cancer

The Big Picture

Thyroid cancer is a type that forms in the thyroid gland, an organ at the base of the throat that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. There are four main types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic. 

Diagnosis

When your doctor suspects a problem with your thyroid gland, he or she will order a biopsy:

Signs and Symptoms

Do you know how to recognize a thyroid problem? Here are some signs that may indicate thyroid cancer:

Mayoclinic.com: Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

Your Thyroid Cancer

You'll need to know which of the four types of thyroid cancer you have (or whether the problem is something else):

EndocrineWeb.com: Thyroid Cancer - Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis

Understanding your treatment options is one of the important things you'll do once you’re diagnosed. You'll work with your doctor to evaluate the options that are best for you:

National Cancer Institute: Thyroid Cancer Treatment

Your World

On the whole, thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer, but it is still cancer and you are likely to be feeling a range of emotions now. That’s normal. You also may find that your family members and friends are worried and may need your help in understanding more about thyroid cancer and what to expect. These resources can help now:

Thyroid Cancer Myths

About.com: Thyroid Disease - 10 Die-Hard Thyroid Myths

Dealing With Thyroid Cancer

Top

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors:

Types of Treatment

Surgery

Thyroidectomy is the removal of the thyroid, which is a common way to get rid of early-stage thyroid cancer. Some surgeries are less drastic, removing lobes or portions of the thyroid:

National Cancer Institute: Thyroid Cancer - Surgery

Hormone Therapy

After surgery you will likely need replacement thyroid hormone:

Radioactive Iodine Therapy & Radiation Therapy 

These two treatments kill off any cancer cells that remain after surgery:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells:

Possible Treatment Side Effects


All forms of thyroid treatment come with the risk of side effects. Some are mild, such as an uncomfortable feeling after surgery. Others are more serious. Some patients will become ill from chemotherapy, for example. Knowing about the possible side effects is necessary to help you make an informed decision about which treatmens is right for you:

Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association: Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

New Therapies

Lasers, which work similarly to radiation therapy, are being used in cancer treatment:

National Cancer Institute: Lasers in Cancer Treatment - Q & A
 
You may want to read up on the latest results of recent research to see if there are options for treatment you'll want to consider with your doctor:

National Cancer Institute: Clinical Trials Results

Creating a Support Circle

  • Set up your TSC survivor profile. 
  • Join support groups of other survivors or start your own.
  • Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or in the TSC forums.

Financial & Work Matters

Financial Matters


The costs of cancer treatment can be a source of worry for you now. If you have health insurance, find out the details of your coverage and read this resource for more guidance:

American Cancer Society: Health Insurance and Financial Assistance

Work Matters

Treatment may intefere with your work, or you may find you can continue at your job without trouble. Know your rights as a cancer survivor:

American Cancer Society: Questions and Answers About Employment Discrimination

Health-care Providers Who Can Help

A team of medical professionals will likely help you through your journey as a patient and survivor of thyroid cancer. You may work with any of the following health-care providers:

  • Endocrinologist (specialist in hormones)
  • Thyroidologist (endocrinologist specializing in thyroid)
  • Surgeon
  • Medical oncologist (specialist in chemotherapy)
  • Radiation oncologist (specialist in radiation therapy for cancer)
  • Oncology nurse(s)
  • Nutritionist

Resources to Find Doctors

The Emotional Rollercoaster


Dealing with thyroid cancer may take a great deal out of you, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. Give yourself permission to feel that full range of emotion and be kind to yourself, treating yourself with as much compassion as you can. Allow yourself to lean on others when you need to, to cry on someone else’s shoulder, or let friends take you to lunch or a movie. There is no one way to feel about having cancer, nor is there only one way to experience it. This is your experience and your journey. Some people find writing down their feelings or keeping a journal to be helpful. Others find doing something good for themselves once a day to be a way to remind themselves of how good it is to be alive. Find your own way of expressing yourself and your feelings.

Books Survivors Recommend

Communicating with Your Health-care Providers

  • One of the keys to coping with cancer is communication with your doctors and other health-care professionals; the more you know and understand, the better equipped you are to deal with this.
  • Make a list of questions and concerns you have for your various providers; consider taking a small notebook with you to treatments or appointments and write down important points you want to remember.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions! It’s your right to know. When you’re informed, you can make better choices.
  • Do your research – when you have the time and energy, use the library and Web and look up information you're curious about.

Dealing with Thyroid Cancer: Information for Co-Survivors

How You Can Help

  • Offer to help your friend or family member with errands they find taxing, or anything they ask for help with.
  • Continue inviting your survivor to the same kinds of things you’ve always done. If you have lunch together weekly, stick to those plans as much as possible. Also try to make the focus of your activities the same things they were before the diagnosis; He/she may not want to talk about the cancer or treatment - follow their lead.
  • Let your survivor know that you are available whenever they need you; having cancer is stressful, and sometimes your survivor may simply need someone to talk to when they’re having a really bad day. You can be a wonderful support person simply by being that person.

What to Say  

  • "I am behind whatever choices you make about treatment.”
  • "Do you want to talk about your cancer or your treatment?"
  • “I care tremendously about our relationship and I’m here for whatever you need.”

What Not to Say

  • "There’s a reason for everything."  
  • "I won’t rest until you’re better."
  • "We’ll make this as easy on you as possible."

Things You Can Do for a Survivor Every Day

  • Laundry still piles up, and dishes still need to be done, so offering help with daily activities is a wonderful way to support someone with thyroid cancer. You can be an important part of someone’s support network by making the offer to do specific tasks. While “I'll do whatever you need” is a wonderful offer, sometimes people need to know that you are willing to do something specific.

How to Build a Support Network

  • Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
  • Create a support group for your friend or family member.
  • Interact and provide updates on how your loved one is doing.

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

Recover & Thrive

Top
Now that you've finished your treatment for thyroid cancer, you are entering the recovery process. You've come a long way since you received your diagnosis and this new part of your journey as a survivor may be a very happy one, but there are likely to be lingering emotions and it's important you keep up with your check-ups and do all you can to stay healthy.

Recovery

Life a a cancer survivor is sometimes made easier by talking to others who've been through what you have. Tap into the many sources of support and information out there to help:

Sometimes it can really help to hear inspiring stories from other thyroid cancer survivors:

Cancer Survivors and Stories from Patients Treated at CTCA

Recurrence

Do you know the risk factors for thyroid cancer? Knowing them can help you prevent a recurrence:

Worst Case

Top

Most of the time, thyroid cancer is very treatable. Sometimes, though, the cancer advances to the point that medical interventions can't help:

Planning for Death

Comments & Stories
The TSC community wants to hear from you. Please share your comments, tips, favorite resources and stories. We'll post them here as soon as possible.

Total Comments: 0

Add Your Comment

Top
Post Title:
Post Text:
TSC welcomes your comments, tips, and stories. Add yours.

Related Sub Topics

Survivors Say: Best Thyroid Cancer Blogs for Now

Survivors Say: Best Sites for Clinical Trials

Famous Thyroid Cancer Survivors

  • Roger Ebert, film critic
  • Joe Piscopo, comedian
  • Rod Stewart, musician