The thyroid gland is an organ of endocrine secretion. The hormones that it produces go directly into the bloodstream and carry out many important regulatory effects on the body. It is known that with the complete removal of the gland, if replacement therapy is not performed, the person gradually falls into a coma – there is a risk of death. Such interventions are necessary in the development of oncology of the organ. It is not surprising that the question arises in patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer – how long they live with this pathology. Modern medicine operates with a variety of techniques, thanks to which patients with oncology of this organ, after undergoing treatment, are alive for many more years, while maintaining a decent level of quality of life.

Methods of combating malignant tumors of the thyroid gland

The key to successful treatment of the disease is early diagnosis. This postulate is more relevant than ever when a doctor deals with cancer of various localizations. In the case of the development of an oncological process in the thyroid gland, its timely detection can lead to a complete cure for the patient. In oncology, it is considered that the patient is healthy if there is no recurrence (resumption of the development of the malignant process) within 5 years from the moment the tumor was removed.

Surgery remains the mainstay of cancer treatment. In thyroid cancer, according to the generally accepted norms of traditional medicine, this is a necessary measure, with the exception of special cases, such as lymphoma or small cell carcinoma. There are the following types of operations on the thyroid gland for malignant tumors:

• resection – removal of part of the organ;
• hemithyroidectomy – removal of one lobe;
• total thyroidectomy – complete removal of the organ;
• final thyroidectomy – removal of residual tissues of the organ after a previous resection.

After removal of thyroid cancer, it is necessary to use additional therapeutic methods to achieve stable remission, maintain health and cure the patient, these include the following methods:

• hormone therapy;
• remote radiation therapy;
• radioactive iodine treatment;
• targeted therapy;
• chemotherapy.

Some of them are carried out before the operation. For example, in the case of undifferentiated thyroid cancer, the first thing to do is radiation and chemotherapy.

Rehabilitation after surgery

An important step in the successful fight against cancer is postoperative rehabilitation. A number of specialists deal with these issues. The most important role is occupied by the activities of the endocrinologist, who develops individual therapy for the patient, taking into account his gender, age, body characteristics and living conditions. There are two types of hormonal treatment – suppressive and replacement. If for some reason the patient does not take hormones or does it in insufficient concentrations, the following manifestations of hypothyroidism may develop:

• violation of thermoregulation – a constant feeling of cold;
• increased fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness;
• low mood;
• constipation;
• weight gain;
• deterioration of the skin condition (peeling, dryness, pallor);
• bradycardia;
• decreased immunity;
• in women – menstrual irregularities, up to the occurrence of infertility.

After thyroid cancer, it is very important to support the body’s immune system. In addition to following the general rules of a healthy lifestyle, the patient is recommended to take a course of probiotics, vitamin complexes. In certain cases, immunomodulating and stimulating drugs are prescribed.

Sometimes, along with a deficiency of thyroid hormones, a phenomenon such as hypoparathyroidism is observed . It is closely related to the small but very important parathyroid glands. During the operation, these formations are also damaged or even removed, which entails dangerous consequences, since these “peas” are responsible for no less than the exchange of calcium and phosphorus. The main manifestation of parathyroid hormone deficiency is severe convulsions. This condition is stopped with the help of hormonal therapy and calcium supplements. In addition, vitamin D3 is often prescribed to normalize mineral metabolism.

Usually, a remote thyroid gland for cancer is an insufficient measure for a reliable victory over the oncological process. In the case when part of the tissues of the organ remains, treatment with radioactive iodine is prescribed after the operation. Although this drug has a detrimental effect not only on the remaining cancer cells of the organ, but also on those that could enter the bloodstream.

Predictions and statistics for thyroid cancer

The life expectancy of a person after removal of thyroid cancer largely depends on the implementation of the entire complex of treatment and compliance with the indicated instructions of the postoperative period. Official statistics will tell you how long patients live after treatment.

Oncology of the thyroid gland is in seventh place in terms of frequency of occurrence among other organs undergoing malignant processes. An important criterion for determining the “survival rate” in thyroid cancer is the type of the tumor itself, the following types are distinguished:

1. Papillary. It makes up about 75% of all malignant tumors of the thyroid gland, responds well to treatment – in 98 cases out of 100 patients who have undergone appropriate therapy live 10 years or more after diagnosis. But if cancer is detected at the last stage IV, the survival rate is halved.
2. Follicular. With early diagnosis, survival is almost the same as the previous type – 97 cases out of 100. In the case of late detection of oncology, only 45 out of 100 patients survive for 10 years.
3. Medullary. When treated in the first stages of the disease, 90 out of 100 people remain alive after 10 years. But only 25 patients out of 100 survive for 10 years if treatment is started at stage IV cancer.
4. Anaplastic. This type of flow is the least favorable. In the case of the onset of metastasis, almost all patients live up to six months, only 7 out of 100 patients survive for 10 years after diagnosis.

In most cases of thyroid cancer, the prognosis is very favorable. Many patients who have undergone surgery at a fairly young age give birth and raise children, build a career and enjoy every new day they live.