Thyroid Removal

[KatRichmond]

My Mom has been diagnosed w/Thyroid Cancer.  Dr. Wants to remove Thyroid.  What has been the experience with long-term side effects after the surgery?

[Jimlow]

Hi, sorry about your mom's thyroid problem but hope I can encourage you that thyroid cancer has a very high success rate. It is one of the most successful operations for cancer removal that there is. It's my understanding most people are not even given radiation treatment because the cancer doesn't return.
Once a thyroid is removed for any reason, it results in permanent hypothyroidism and you have to be replaced (thyroid med.) for life. Any symptoms would be from too little hormone but can be fixed by dosage increases by your Doc, using follow-up blood testing of her hormone levels. Another problem that is possible with any hypothyroid patient, is over-replacement which would cause medicine-induced hashitoxicosis or actually thyroidtoxicosis (too much hormone) and causes hyperthyroid symptoms. So it will be a matter of reaching the correct dose and staying on it.
Best Wishes.

[KatRichmond]

Thanks for your information.  Mom's in denial right now, so I can't get answers from her.

I appreciate your help!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Thyroid removal is very common and recommended for thyroid cancer.  The complication rate is less than 1-2% with experienced surgeons.  Depending on the tumor size, number and type your mom may benefit from radioactive iodine - actually the recurrence rate is lowered with radioactive iodine and it makes recurrence more readily detected in the future - the good news is most thyroid cancer (about 95%) is cured with surgery and radioactive iodine.

[L.A.Owen]

I had my thyroid removed last year due to follicular cancer. Not a 100% yet but am getting there. Went to a support meeting Thursdayand there was a gentleman there who had his removed 27years ago. Once they got my medication right I felt a bit better still have bad days but does not stop me working full time.