Common side effects of thyroid cancer treatment

Common side effects of thyroid cancer treatment

Thyroid Cancer Side Effects after Surgery

Risks and Side Effects of Thyroid Surgery

thyroid cancer treatment side effects

Some possible side effects are common to nearly all operations. These include:

. Numbness over the area

. Infection, for example, a wound infection or chest infection

. A blood clot or risk of bleeding

. Swelling in the area

Your healthcare team monitor you closely to check for these. You have treatment, such as antibiotics, if you need it.

Read more about : Thyroid cancer treatment

You may have other side effects following your thyroid surgery for example:

. Voice changes

After thyroid surgery some people have voice changes. Your voice may be hoarse or sound different. The thyroid gland lies close to your voice box (larynx). So surgery can damage the nerve to your voice box. This usually gets better within a few weeks.

It’s rare to have permanent changes. Your team might refer you to a voice therapist or speech therapist if you continue to have problems.

Read more about : Thyroidectomy scar

. A change in thyroid hormones

If you have had your whole thyroid removed, you will need to take tablets to replace the hormones that your thyroid would normally make. This is called thyroid hormone replacement.

The thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3). You need one of these hormones to keep your body metabolism working effectively. You will need to take them for the rest of your life. Without the hormones, you would feel tired, gain weight, have dry skin and hair, and feel physically and mentally lacking in energy. Your doctor or specialist nurse will talk to you about which hormones you need to take and the correct dose.

You don’t generally need to take thyroid hormones if you have had part of your gland removed. Your remaining thyroid usually makes all the hormone you need. But you have blood tests to check that it is working well.

If you have had follicular or papillary thyroid cancer, the hormones may also help to stop the cancer from coming back. They stop your body from producing another hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH encourages these types of thyroid cancer cells to grow.

. A change in calcium levels

An operation on your thyroid gland could damage the nearby parathyroid glands. Or your surgeon might need to remove some of the parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands control the levels of calcium in your blood.

Any damage could mean that these glands don’t work so well and calcium levels fall. If this happens, you will need to take calcium tablets and possibly extra vitamin D. This is usually a temporary side effect, but could be permanent in some people.

Read more about : Thyroid Cancer Treatment

. Lymphoedema

After your surgery it is normal to have some swelling close to the wound. This usually goes away after a few weeks as the wound heals.

If you had some lymph nodes in your neck removed, the swelling may continue to be there and sometimes it gets worse. This is called lymphoedema.

Tell your doctor if you continue to have swelling in your neck after a few weeks. You may need some more exercises to help the swelling go down

Read more about: Thyroidectomy types

Read more about: Thyroidectomy complications

10 common question about Common side effects of thyroid cancer treatment:

1What are the side effects of radiation for thyroid cancer?
Because of this, radioactive iodine (RAI, also called I-131) can be used to treat thyroid cancer. ... Short-term side effects of RAI treatment may include: Neck tenderness and swelling. Nausea and vomiting. Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. Dry mouth. Taste changes.
2Can chemo affect your thyroid?
In cancer patients, thyroid function is thought to be vulnerable to chemotherapy, as hypothalamic-pituitary axis is active and chemotherapy is systemic therapy for patients. The influence of chemotherapy on thyroid function was just seen as a late effect [1, 2], mainly presenting hypothyroidism.
3Will I lose my hair with thyroid cancer?
Symptom: Hair Loss Hair loss is another sign that thyroid hormones may be out of balance. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out. In most cases, the hair will grow back once the thyroid disorder is treated.
4Can thyroid cancer go away on its own?
Thyroid nodule treatment The nodule may go away on its own or stay the same size. Patients treated this way should be checked by their doctor every 6 months to monitor the growth of the nodule. ... If a nodule is cancerous or grows despite hormone pill treatment, surgery to remove the nodule may be needed.
5Is radiation better than chemo?
Radiation therapy can take place on its own, but it's frequently combined with chemotherapy as a comprehensive cancer treatment program. Radiation therapy differs from chemotherapy — it is used to treat just the tumor, so it affects only the part of the body that has cancer.
6Do you gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?
New eye disease developed in 45 patients after radioactive iodine therapy. ... Weight gain is common, but in this study was not measured against patients' normal weight prior to the development of hyperthyroidism, which has previously been shown to be associated with weight gain after treatment.
7What foods are bad for thyroid?
These foods have goitrogens or are known irritants if consumed in large amounts. Foods that contain gluten: Bread, pasta, cereals, beer, etc. Soy foods: Tofu, tempeh, edamame beans, soy milk, etc. Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage, etc. Certain fruits: Peaches, pears and strawberries.
8What happens if thyroid is high?
High amounts of T4, T3, or both can cause an excessively high metabolic rate. ... Hyperthyroidism can cause more frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and, in women, irregular menstrual cycles. Visibly, the thyroid gland itself can swell into a goiter, which can be either symmetrical or one-sided.
9Does thyroid cancer need chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is systemic therapy, which means that the drug enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to reach and destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is seldom helpful for most types of thyroid cancer, but fortunately it is not needed in most cases.
10Do you have hypothyroidism look at your hands?
People with hypothyroidism often report having cold hands or feet, although they may feel that their whole body is cold. These symptoms are not exclusive to hypothyroidism, however. Circulation problems or anemia can also cause people to feel chilly.

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