Thyroid cancer is being diagnosed more often today, even in early stages, because of improved imaging technologies. Sometimes, we can monitor small, slow-growing cancers rather than treat them immediately.

Thyroid cancer means that a lump in the thyroid contains cells that are growing abnormally. Many thyroid cancers are highly treatable and have an excellent prognosis. Our team evaluates thyroid tumors carefully to determine the specific type of cancer. We work with you to develop the most effective care plan for you.

Surgery
Surgery is usually the first treatment for thyroid cancer. Our surgeons perform a high volume of thyroid operations each year. Research shows that patients have fewer complications and better outcomes after surgery at centers that do a high volume of procedures.  Learn more about surgery for thyroid tumor.

Our surgical team has expertise in:
• Thyroid lobectomy: Removing one lobe of the thyroid
• Total thyroidectomy: Removing the whole thyroid gland
• Lymph node dissection: Removing lymph nodes (small structures that are part of the immune system) where cancer has spread
• Resection: Surgery to remove locally advanced thyroid cancer that invades the trachea, esophagus, or other structures

Radioactive iodine
Because the thyroid gland absorbs iodine, radioactive iodine can treat thyroid conditions with relatively minor effect on the rest of your body. Iodine carries radiation directly to diseased thyroid cells to destroy them.

We often use radioactive iodine in addition to surgery to destroy all or part of the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine treatment is usually given as a pill. Our nuclear medicine team has great expertise in treating thyroid cancer this way.

Additional treatment
In some cases, we use additional radiation and targeted therapies to further treat thyroid cancer. Radiation uses intense beams of energy, like X-rays, to target the tumor and destroy cancer cells. Targeted therapy refers to treatment that travels through your body to the tumor. Our medical oncologists oversee this treatment, which is delivered as a pill or through infusion.  We tend to use these treatments when thyroid cancer has spread to other regions of the body:

• External beam radiation
• 3D conformal radiation therapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT)
• Targeted therapy

Support services
We offer extensive support services to help you maintain your quality of life throughout and after treatment. These services include: 

• Speech-language pathology
• Voice therapy 
• Swallowing therapy
• Nutritional support
  

Recurrent thyroid cancer is thyroid cancer that returns after previous treatment. Cancer cells may reappear in the area of the thyroid gland or elsewhere in the body. Cancers that return may be more aggressive, and the second wave of treatment is more complicated than the first.

We see many people who received initial treatment for thyroid cancer at other medical centers and are referred to us for further treatment. Our doctors are highly experienced with the most aggressive cancers and the most challenging cases. We’ll work closely with you to help you understand your options so you can make the decisions that are best for you.

Surgery
With all types of recurrent thyroid cancer, surgery is the preferred treatment. We have distinct expertise in reoperations to remove thyroid tumors that have recurred. While reoperations can be highly complex and specialized, we can perform thyroid surgery even after multiple previous operations.

Our surgical team has expertise in:

• Partial or total thyroidectomy: Removing one lobe of the thyroid or the entire thyroid 
• Lymph node dissection, including reoperative lymph node dissection: Removing lymph nodes where cancer has spread
• Surgery for locally advanced thyroid cancer, including resection or partial resection: Removing all or part of the trachea, esophagus, larynx, or large blood vessels
  

Additional treatments
Our experts offer specialized treatment planning for additional therapies after or instead of surgery for recurring thyroid cancer. These treatments may include radiation therapy and medical oncology. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, like X-rays, to target tumors and destroy cancer cells. Medical oncology refers to treatment, delivered as a pill or through infusion, that travels through your body to the tumor.

Your therapy may include:

• Repeated radioactive iodine: Radiation-carrying iodine, usually in pill form, that destroys cancerous cells in the thyroid gland
• External beam radiation 
• 3D conformal radiation therapy 
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) 
• Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT)
• Targeted therapy

Support services
Our support services can enhance your recovery while you heal from surgery and other cancer treatment. We provide support services including:

• Speech-language pathology
• Voice therapy 
• Swallowing therapy
• Nutritional support
  
  

An uncommon type of thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, is the primary type of thyroid cancer that can benefit from genetic counseling. Medullary thyroid cancer is linked to mutations in the RET gene. These mutations are seen in the genetic syndromes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) and familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC).

It’s important to receive expert care for medullary thyroid cancer. Stanford’s Endocrine Tumor Program includes doctors with extensive experience in identifying and treating this condition.

Our endocrine genetics experts offer genetic counseling to help you make treatment planning decisions and assess your family’s risk. If your doctor suspects medullary cancer, genetic testing can help you understand if the cancer is inherited or occurred on its own.