Stages I and II Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer
Stage III Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer
Stage IV Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer
Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of stage I and II papillary and follicular thyroid cancer may include the following:

• Total or near-total thyroidectomy, with or without radioactive iodine therapy.
• Lobectomy and removal of lymph nodes that contain cancer, followed by hormone therapy. Radioactive iodine therapy may be given following surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I papillary thyroid cancer ¹, stage I follicular thyroid cancer ², stage II papillary thyroid cancer ³ and stage II follicular thyroid cancer ⁴.

Treatment of stage III papillary and follicular thyroid cancer is usually total thyroidectomy. Cancer that has spread outside the thyroid, as well as any lymph nodes that have cancer in them, will also be removed. Radioactive iodine therapy or external radiation therapy may be given after surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III papillary thyroid cancer ⁵ and stage III follicular thyroid cancer ⁶.

Treatment of stage IV papillary and follicular thyroid cancer that has spread only to the lymph nodes can often be cured. When cancer has spread to other places in the body, such as the lungs and bone, treatment usually does not cure the cancer, but can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. Treatment may include the following:

• Radioactive iodine therapy.
• External-beam radiation therapy.
• Surgery to remove cancer from areas where it has spread.
• Hormone therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV papillary thyroid cancer ⁷ and stage IV follicular thyroid cancer ⁸.

Treatment may include the following:

• Total thyroidectomy if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
• Removal of lymph nodes that contain cancer.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has recurred in the thyroid.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with thyroid gland medullary carcinoma ⁹.

Treatment may include the following:

• Tracheostomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Total thyroidectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has not spread away from the thyroid.
• External radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of total thyroidectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer ¹⁰.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

To heal or restore health; a treatment to restore health.

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external radiation therapy.

Cancer that forms in follicular cells in the thyroid. It grows slowly and is highly treatable.

Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. For certain conditions (such as diabetes or menopause), hormones are given to adjust low hormone levels. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. Also called hormonal therapy, hormone treatment, or endocrine therapy.

Surgery to remove a whole lobe (section) of an organ (such as the lungs, liver, brain, or thyroid gland).

One of a pair of organs in the chest that supplies the body with oxygen, and removes carbon dioxide from the body.

A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease, and at the end of life.

Cancer that forms in follicular cells in the thyroid and grows in small finger-like shapes. It grows slowly, is more common in women than in men, and often occurs before age 45. It is the most common type of thyroid cancer.

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out various activities.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

A radioactive form of iodine, often used for imaging tests or to treat an overactive thyroid, thyroid cancer, and certain other cancers. For imaging tests, the patient takes a small dose of radioactive iodine that collects in thyroid cells and certain kinds of tumors and can be detected by a scanner. To treat thyroid cancer, the patient takes a large dose of radioactive iodine, which kills thyroid cells. Radioactive iodine is also used in internal radiation therapy for prostate cancer, intraocular (eye) melanoma, and carcinoid tumors. Radioactive iodine is given by mouth as a liquid or in capsules, by infusion, or sealed in seeds, which are placed in or near the tumor to kill cancer cells.

To come back or to return.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

Treatment.

A gland located beneath the voice box (larynx) that makes thyroid hormone and calcitonin. The thyroid helps regulate growth and metabolism.

Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid.

Surgery to create an opening (stoma) into the windpipe. The opening itself may also be called a tracheostomy.