Treating Your Thyroid Cancer
I am
and my risk level is
Click to Continue
This website is for use during a clinical encounter with your Otolaryngologist.
Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid cancer is common
- Fewer than 1 person in 1000 die from thyroid cancer
- There are many reasonable choices for you
Your FNA has an associated Bethesda Score
| Bethesda class | Diagnostic category | Cancer risk (%) |
|---|---|---|
| I | Nondiagnostic | 1-4 |
| II | Benign | 0-3 |
| III |
AUSAtypia of Undetermined Significance or FLUSFollicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance
|
5-15 |
| IV | FNFollicular Neoplasm /SNSecondary Neoplasm |
15-30 |
| V | SUSPSuspicious for Malignancy |
60-75 |
| VI | Malignant | 97-99 |
Molecular testing can help clarify your risk of cancer
Molecular testing can help clarify your risk of cancer
As a result of Bethesda Scoring +/- Molecular Testing, you have a:
Low (5-30%)
High (60-99%)
Risk of having thyroid cancer
What are my options?
| Observation | Hemi-Thyroidectomy | Total Thyroidectomy |
|---|---|---|
| No scar | Midline 3-4cm scar | Midline 4-5cm scar |
Considerations
| Scar | Low Calcium | Voice Complications | Need for Medication | Recovery |
What are my options?
| Observation | Hemi-Thyroidectomy | Total Thyroidectomy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No change in calcium | No change in calcium |
Temporary for 20 people in 100. Permanent for ~1-5 people in 100. |
Considerations
| Scar | Low Calcium | Voice Complications | Need for Medication | Recovery |
What are my options?
| Observation | Hemi-Thyroidectomy | Total Thyroidectomy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No change to voice |
Temporary for 10 people in 100. Permanent for ~1-5 people in 100. |
Temporary for 20 people in 100. Permanent for ~1-5 people in 100. |
Considerations
| Scar | Low Calcium | Voice Complications | Need for Medication | Recovery |
What are my options?
| Observation | Hemi-Thyroidectomy | Total Thyroidectomy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No need for thyroid supplementation |
Thyroid supplementation required for ~30 in 100 people |
Thyroid supplementation required for 100 out of 100 people |
Considerations
| Scar | Low Calcium | Voice Complications | Need for Medication | Recovery |
What are my options?
| Observation | Hemi-Thyroidectomy | Total Thyroidectomy |
|---|---|---|
| No recovery | Same day surgery or one night in hospital | Same day surgery or one night in hospital |
Considerations
| Scar | Low Calcium | Voice Complications | Need for Medication | Recovery |
Cancer Growth and Metastasis
| Surgical Treatment | Active Monitoring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
In 100 people like you, 1 person will have thyroid cancer found in neck lymph nodes. This will probably require additional treatment |
In 100 people like you, 1 person will have thyroid cancer found in neck lymph nodes. This will probably require additional treatment 6 people will have an increase in the size of their thyroid cancer which may require surgery |
We are in this together.
What matters the most to you?
- Making sure I know if I have cancer
- Not having a scar
- The possible need to take medication forever
- Whatever my doctor thinks I should do
- Not having surgery if I don't have to
- Risk to my voice
- Concern related to other health problems