Thyroid cancer

Surgery Group LA
How to cope with a cancer diagnosis

Cancer as a word is everywhere. On your newsfeed, someone in your family or a friend perhaps. Cancer seems to be all everyone seems to be talking about, and yet for the vast majority of people who get their cancer diagnosis: it’s a huge, huge surprise.

No amount of counseling, support, or information will completely remove the shock and raw wholly. Each person who goes through a cancer journey has a right to approach it in their own way, but we here at the Surgery Group of Los Angeles humbly offer these words of support and advice from our years of experience treating cancer patients.

  1. Talk to someone, who it is up to you – A trusted friend or loved one? Of course. Random person at a bar? Go for it. Your cancer support team? You betcha. Other cancer survivors? Whatever you want. Who that person is is entirely up to you. Stay authentic or work on authenticity, there is no need to be faux cheery or need to discuss deep moody topics just because you have cancer. Talking with other cancer survivors might give you insight into what parts of the cancer journey are completely normal and perhaps bond with people that might understand more than others.
  1. Focus on the treatment options and what you can control, not statistics – There is nothing wrong with learning everything you need to know about your cancer diagnosis and treatment, we recommend it. But don’t get bogged down in the year mortality rates, or which type of cancer is worse, focus on what you can control, like making sure that your treatment plan and the team are crucial and right for your diagnosis.
  2. Advocate for yourself! – Just because your doctor might be a specialist of some pedigree in this diagnosis gives them no excuse to bully or talk down to you. If you feel like your doctor is not giving you a clear and informative picture of your treatment options, and isn’t discussing the complexity of your case with you in full, move on. You know your body better than anyone and you should fight for it.
  3. Maintain who you are – It is a fact that some things will change as your cancer journey commences. You will have times when you suddenly are unable to do things. Focus on what you can do, maintain your physical regimen, or begin a new one. Keep pursuing goals and passion, you may need to focus your energy more on what really matters but keep your life as unchanged as you can.
  4. Eat well and exercise – You and your body are about to go on a journey, make sure that it’s well maintained.

In essence focus on getting healthy and staying connected to the things and people that you love and trust. It’s good advice for anyone, but in a sea of misinformation and shocking articles, please consider this a healthy reminder that this is your journey, it is unique and will have its own complexities, and you don’t have to listen to anyone but knowledge and yourself. 

If you or a loved one is processing a cancer diagnosis and would like to speak with someone who can help contact a medical professional today.

September 16, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Recovering from Thyroid Surgery: What to expect?

A Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of a part of all of your thyroid glands. Your thyroid is located around the neck and produces hormones that control every aspect of your body’s metabolism, from your heart rate to how efficiently you work through calories.

A Thyroidectomy is required in order to treat conditions such as thyroid cancer, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), or goiters. 

Depending on the amount of thyroid removed your thyroid may function normally after surgery. However, if your entire thyroid must be removed (total thyroidectomy) you will need to ingest a daily amount of thyroid hormone in order to replace your thyroid’s natural duties.

What is the recovery process from a thyroidectomy like? 

Some common temporary ailments that you might endure after your thyroid surgery include:

  • Sore throat
  • Neck pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Weak voice
  • Tingling fingers and mouth (requires calcium supplement)

The good news is again these symptoms are quite temporary, and should completely go away after 2-3 weeks. Your doctor will still recommend that you do not perform any heavy lifting or strenuous activities for about 3 weeks. 

It’s important to avoid scrubbing or soaking the site of your surgery for at least a week after surgery, though regular showering is generally okay after one day.

Before you are released from the hospital, your medical team will schedule follow-up appointments, provide specific instructions for recovery at home, and prescribe any medications you may need.

Pain and other symptoms involving the incision site of your surgery should improve after a few days but may continue for a week or so. If you notice sudden swelling in your neck, this may signify an infection, and you should follow up with your medical team as soon as possible.

Does Thyroid Surgery have side effects?

If you are undergoing total thyroidectomy, you will need to take thyroid hormone replacements for the rest of your life. If your parathyroid gland was affected during surgery you may need calcium supplements as well to balance your calcium levels.

What is the recovery process like day to day?

As mentioned earlier, after your surgery you may experience:

  • Sore Throat
  • Weak Voice
  • Neck pain

Your incision will need to be taken care of and you may need to avoid showering, pools, or baths for up to a week after in order to ensure proper healing. Your scar may start to grow pink and harden, and the surrounding area may grow dry and itchy. 

While you should avoid any neck strain a week or two after surgery, after this you should begin to stretch out and move your neck as soon as you can without pain or difficulty. This will ensure that your neck does not permanently become stiff.

When can I return to normal activities?

After about 10 -14 days you may be able to resume vigorous physical activity such as running or working out, but you should still take it slow in the beginning. Be mindful of any sudden swelling or new symptoms and alert your doctor if they come up. After 3 weeks or so you should back to normal activities without much problem.

August 30, 2022

Surgery Group LA
3 key terms to understand about your thyroid cancer prognosis
882 Thyroid Cancer Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock
Thyroid

In the hurry to give you all the facts about your case, your doctor might have inadvertently thrown out some words or concepts during your prognosis discussion that may have gone over your head. 

For those who need a little more clarity, here is what doctors mean when they are explaining these concepts to you in person.

Types of Thyroid Cancers

Papillary – Most common and most likely to respond to treatment even in deeper stages

Follicular and Medullary – Less common than Papillary but responds well to treatment

Anaplastic – The fastest growing of the four and least likely to respond to treatment

Types of Treatment

Surgery – Used to remove a part of all of the thyroid, most thyroid cancer patients will undergo some surgery at some point depending on the size and spread of cancer. These surgeries, while crucial, have a risk of infection, and bleeding, and will need you to avoid strenuous activity for 2 – 4 weeks.

Radiation Therapy – Used for Papillary and Follicular cancers. Radioactive iodine is ingested to kill cancerous thyroid cells, including thyroid cells that remain after surgery. Can cause dry mouth, mouth pain, eye inflammation, and altered taste of sense or smell.

Targeted Therapy Drugs – For aggressive cancers, your doctor will often prescribe targeted drug treatments that work by blocking specific chemicals that the cancer cell needs to survive. Can be ingested orally or through injections. The most common side effects of TKIs, the most common Targeted Therapy drugs are diarrhea, skin rash, and bleeding. Side effects of other drugs may vary.

5-year survival rates

5-year survival rates for cancers are based on the number of patients who have your cancer who survive in 5 years relative to the number of people generally who survive 5 years of your gender and age. Factors such as race, income factor, and genetic health also play a factor.

How your five-year rate is determined is based on the spread of cancer such as:

Localized – Cancer hasn’t grown outside of the thyroid

Regional – Cancer has spread to tissue near the thyroid

Distant – Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones

As well as the individual circumstances of your cases. However, for Stage IV cancer the 5-year survival rate of each type of cancer is:

Papillary – Regional 99%, Distant 78%

Follicular – Regional 96%, Distant 63%

Medullary – Regional 90%, Distant 39%

Anaplastic – Regional 12%, Distant 4%

Conclusion

Every patient is different and every situation is unique but hopefully, this information is a decent overview of the how-to decipher your Thyroid Cancer prognosis.

If you or a loved one wants more information on thyroid cancer, speak to a medical professional today.

May 22, 2022

Surgery Group LA
New Advancement in Non-Opioid Post Surgery Recovery Programs Show Positive Results for Thyroid Cancer Patients

May 6, 2022 – With over 10 million people last year abusing opioids in the past year alone, patients with major surgery have become more and more aware of the risks of opioid dependency.

However, in a multi-study analysis of double blind studies, patients who participated in a program of pre-op therapy sessions and minor pain medications, resulted in a statistically significant drop in post opioid use.

Perhaps just as importantly these patients didn’t desire new opioid prescriptions after surgery. This suggests that with proper pain management, modern thyroid surgical treatments might not require opioids at all.

While potentially addictive, opioids still can be a crucial option for patients who need them and the representatives of the study reiterated that each patient post operative care needs to be treated as a unique case.

However, with new best medical practices, thyroid cancer patients might have one less thing to worry about during this stressful time in their lives.

If you or a loved one is going through thyroid cancer and needs more information about their case, please speak to a medical professional today.

May 9, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Do thyroid cancer patients still need radioactive iodine treatment? New research casts doubts

Radioactive Iodine treatment has long been a key component of treatment for patients suffering from minor to moderate cases of thyroid cancer. Usually performed after the thyroid has been removed, the treatment was designed to pump in radioactive isotopes of iodine killing any remaining cancerous cells left in the thyroid after surgery, decreasing the chances of relapse.

The problem with the procedure is that while the treatment itself is quite safe and free of major side effects, the procedure can be quite expensive and time extensive for patients.

Newer studies have already indicated that the time for radioactive iodine may have passed. With advances in ct scans and ultrasound testing, many thyroid tumors are found while they are still small and have relatively low risks. For these tumors, it had long been speculated that radiation was not necessary and unreasonably costly to add to treatment. In 2012, researchers found that even smaller than normal doses of radiation were just as effective at preventing relapse compared to normal doses of radioactive iodine.

These same researchers then performed a larger study of 730 patients with low-risk thyroid cancer and tumors less than 2 centimeters in width, treating half with no radioactive iodine at all, and half with the microdose similar to amounts of the previous study,

These researchers found after 3 years there was no difference in relapses, needed treatments, and irregular biological findings, between the groups who were treated and not treated with radioactive iodine.

While these groups will be monitored for years to come, and recommendations on radioactive iodine will not change right away, this could be the first piece of hard evidence that a laborious and expensive part of thyroid cancer treatment may be a thing of the past.

Have any questions in regards to thyroid cancer, or thyroid health in general? Consult a medical professional today.

March 31, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Thyroid Nodules: Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid Nodules

A Thyroid Nodule is a solid or fluid-filled lump that forms within the thyroid gland, a hormone gland that is wrapped around your neck under the Adam’s apple.

Symptoms

While most thyroid nodules are small and go away with time if you have any of these symptoms it may be time to speak with a doctor for testing.

For cases of an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism  you may suffer from: 

  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Memory problems or trouble concentrating
  • Depression and fatigue

For cases of an overactive thyroid  or hyperthyroidism you may suffer from: 

  • Sudden weight loss, even if your appetite has increased or is normal
  • Pounding heartbeat, tremors
  • Muscle weakness

Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid nodules are often discovered during a routine physical exam. Your doctor might discover a growth or swelling around your neck and perform further imaging tests. These are performed in order to get a better idea of the size of nodules, assess whether you are suffering from hypo or hyperthyroidism, as well as determine if the growth may be cancerous.

These tests include:

  • Hormone Test – Your doctor will perform a blood test in order to test your thyroid hormone levels and see if your thyroid is performing properly
  • Antibody Test – Depending on your blood work,  your doctor may perform an antibody test in order to rule out Hashimoto’s or Graves disease, a thyroid condition linked to an autoimmune disorder
  • Ultrasound of the thyroid – A ultrasound uses sound waves in order to create an image of your thyroid, which helps your doctor reveal the size of the thyroid and nodules affecting the thyroid
  • Radioactive iodine uptake test – Your doctor may prescribe this test in order to understand your thyroid function. They will inject you with a small amount of radioactive iodine and scan your thyroid gland in order to see how your thyroid absorbs it 
  • Biopsy – Your doctor may perform a microscopic biopsy of your neck tissue cells in order to rule out the possibility of a cancerous growth causing your condition

Treatment

Depending on the size of the nodules, severity of symptoms, and causes of the thyroid nodules, your doctor may perform any of these treatment options. 

  • Watchful waiting – In most cases, thyroid nodules are small, noncancerous, and have little chance of growing. In these cases, your doctor may advise no treatment but will prescribe a careful observation schedule with regularly timed testing intervals. If the thyroid has caused new growth or causing new symptoms report it to your doctor immediately
  • Medications – Underactive thyroids (Hypothyroidism) will often be treated with hormone supplements like levothyroxine (Levoxyl), while overactive thyroids (Hyperthyroidism) will be treated with drugs like methimazole (Tapazole) which may reduce the size of the goiter.
  • Surgery – If your thyroid is affecting your ability to breath or swallow, or is connected with thyroid cancer, you may need surgery in the form of a total or partial thyroidectomy. If surgery is performed, you will often need to take regular hormone supplements in order to replace the hormones your thyroid would usually produce

However, in most cases, thyroid nodules do not need treatments and can be managed with aspirin, and a diet that focuses on increasing supplies of iodine in the form of:

  • Seaweed
  • Saltwater fish such as salmon and tuna
  • Soy and dairy products

If you have any concerns regarding your thyroid, speak to a medical professional today.

December 15, 2021

Surgery Group LA
Goiters: Diagnosis and Treatment

Goiter

A Goiter is an irregular growth of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a gland located under the Adam’s apple in a winged-like wrapping around your neck.

Symptoms 

Most people with Goiters won’t develop any symptoms outside of swelling around the neck. However, Goiters can cause specific symptoms depending on if it causes a decrease or increase in thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism – Decrease in Thyroid function

  • Fatigue
  • Sensitivity to cold
  • Sleepiness
  • Dry skin
  • Muscle weakness
  • Problems with attention or concentration

Hyperthyroidism – Increase in Thyroid function

  • Weight loss
  • Rabid Heartbeat (tachycardia)
  • Increased sensitivity to heat
  • Excess sweating
  • Tremors
  • Twitchiness or Irritability
  • High blood pressure

Diagnosis and Treatment

Goiters are often discovered during a routine physical exam. Your doctor might discover a growth or swelling around your neck and perform further imaging tests. These are performed in order to get a better idea of the size of nodules, assess whether you are suffering from hypo or hyperthyroidism, and determine the cause of the goiter. 

These tests include:

  • Hormone Test – Your doctor will perform a blood test in order to test your thyroid hormone levels and see if your thyroid is performing properly
  • Antibody Test – Depending on your blood work,  your doctor may perform an antibody test in order to rule out Hashimoto’s or Graves disease, a thyroid condition linked to an autoimmune disorder
  • Ultrasound of the thyroid – A ultrasound uses sound waves in order to create an image of your thyroid, which helps your doctor reveal the size of the thyroid and nodules affecting the thyroid
  • Radioactive iodine uptake test – Your doctor may prescribe this test in order to understand your thyroid function. They will inject you with a small amount of radioactive iodine and scan your thyroid gland in order to see how your thyroid absorbs it 
  • Biopsy – Your doctor may perform a microscopic biopsy of your neck tissue cells in order to rule out the possibility of a cancerous growth causing your condition

Treatment

Depending on the size of the goiter, severity of symptoms, and causes of the goiter, your doctor may perform any of these treatment options. 

  • Watchful waiting – In most cases, goiters are small, noncancerous, and have little chance of growing. In these cases, your doctor may advise no treatment but will prescribe a careful observation schedule with regularly timed testing intervals. If the thyroid has caused new growth or causing new symptoms report it to your doctor immediately
  • Medications – Underactive thyroids (Hypothyroidism) will often be treated with hormone supplements like levothyroxine (Levoxyl), while overactive thyroids (Hyperthyroidism) will be treated with drugs like methimazole (Tapazole) which may reduce the size of the goiter.
  • Surgery – If a goiter is affecting your ability to breath or swallow, or is connected with thyroid cancer, you may need surgery in the form of a total or partial thyroidectomy. If surgery is performed, you will often need to take regular hormone supplements in order to replace the hormones your thyroid would usually produce

However, in most cases, goiters do not need treatments and can be managed with aspirin and a healthy diet that rich in iodine which includes:

  • Seaweed
  • Saltwater fish such as salmon and tuna
  • Soy and dairy products

If you have any concerns regarding your thyroid, speak to a medical professional today.

December 15, 2021

Surgery Group LA
Pros and Cons Of Minimally Invasive Thyroid Surgery

For patients who suffer from thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid goiters, minimally invasive thyroid surgery can be a crucial option in treating their condition. Normal thyroid surgery also has a low complication rate and is quite effective and treating thyroid-related diseases. However, there are complicating factors that may make minimally invasive surgery a better option.

The word surgery however can cause anxiety even for the most well-informed patients, so we here at the Surgery Group of LA have formulated this handy information sheet on the advantages and disadvantages of minimally invasive thyroid surgery that you can discuss with your doctor prior to any decisions about an operation.

Advantages

While the incision length can vary, open or normal thyroid surgeries can require incisions anywhere from 3.5 cm (for parathyroidectomy) to 5.5 cm (for total thyroidectomy). While any surgeon will do their absolute best to minimize the incision point in any surgery, minimally invasive thyroid surgical techniques can dramatically shorten the length of the incision required for surgery. While all of these measurements are estimates, a video-assisted thyroidectomy might only require an incision of about 2 cm in length. This means a shorter recovery time and a less noticeable scar for the patient.

In general, the recovery time associated with minimally invasive surgery techniques are far lower than their open surgery counterparts. The recovery time for an open thyroidectomy can be 2-3 weeks and may require an overnight hospital stay for observation and treatment. Minimally invasive surgery has recovery times in as little as 10 days and patients can often be sent home the same day as their operation.

Disadvantages

The main limitation of minimally invasive thyroid surgical techniques is that unfortunately not all patients can be treated using minimally invasive techniques. Generally, only patients with small thyroid glands, who do not suffer from thyroiditis, and have not had previous neck surgery or radiation treatments are eligible. 

Minimally invasive thyroid surgery is also more technically complicated and demanding, and the actual operation time is much longer than its open surgery counterparts. Because minimally invasive surgery is new and not the most common procedure, your surgeon might not be as familiar with minimally invasive techniques as they are with open surgical techniques.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive thyroid surgical techniques can be a great way to limit post-operative pain and scarring associated with thyroid surgery. However, it is not for everyone and must be discussed clearly with your surgeon before being considered an option.

November 12, 2021

Surgery Group LA
Thyroid Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

There are approximately 44,000 new cases of Thyroid Cancer every year. The good news is that this increase in diagnosis stems from new and advanced detection techniques. Tests like CT and MRI scans have been developed and refined, allowing for detection at earlier stages of cancer.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, most thyroid cancer can be cured. Please consult this guide if you are a loved one who believes that you might have thyroid cancer.

Early Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

The most common symptom of Thyroid Cancer is an enlargement or swelling of the thyroid glands in your neck. Other symptoms include:

  • Increased hoarseness of the voice that does not heal
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Pain in the neck and throat

Diagnosis

After performing a routine physical your doctor might perform these exams in order to ascertain if you have thyroid cancer:

  • Physical Examination – Your doctor will feel your neck for any signs of growth inside the thyroid glands around your neck. They also will ask about potential risk factors, such as your family’s history with Thyroid cancer and other cancers.
  • Blood test – A blood test might be prescribed in order to test whether your hormone levels are normal, a sign of a healthy thyroid
  • Ultrasound Imaging – Ultrasound uses sound waves to construct an in-depth image of your body structure. Ultrasounds can be a crucial test in deciphering whether a thyroid growth is benign or malignant and needs surgical treatment
  • Biopsy of suspect tissue – Using an Ultrasound as a guide, your doctor may remove a small part of the tissue in question through a procedure called a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The sample then can be tested for cancerous cells.

Treatment

If your thyroid cancer is very small and has a low risk of spreading, your doctor may advise against treatment, preferring to keep cancer under active surveillance, usually through a blood and ultrasound test once or twice a year. These growths may never grow past this stage and may never require treatment.

However, most people diagnosed with thyroid cancer will require treatment at some point. Common non-surgical treatments include Thyroid Hormone Therapy, Chemotherapy, or Radiotive treatments, however, most thyroid cancer patients opt for surgical treatments. These treatments include:

  • Partial Removal of the thyroid (Thyroid Lobectomy) – Can be performed as an alternative to complete removal of the thyroid. A lobectomy is performed if the cancerous growth is small and has low signs of spreading. One advantage of this treatment is that the patient might not have to rely on thyroid hormone pills after treatment
  • Near Complete or Complete removal of the thyroid (Thyroidectomy) – The most common form of surgical treatment for thyroid cancer, a surgeon will remove most if not all the thyroid gland in order to decrease the chance of new growths forming. While this treatment will leave a scar around the neck, the scar will grow less noticeable over time. Patients who go through a thyroidectomy will need to take thyroid hormone pills daily
  • Removal of the lymph nodes around the neck (Lymph node dissection) – If cancer has spread through the thyroid into the lymph nodes, these nodes will often be removed during the same procedure as the thyroid removal surgery.

Common side effects of surgery include:

  • Temporary or permanent hoarseness of voice
  • Infection
  • Hematoma – forms of blood clots around the neck
  • Damage to the parathyroid glands could lead to irregulated calcium levels which can cause muscle spasms

Every form of treatment should be heavily discussed with your medical team before proceeding, but if you or a loved one is suffering from thyroid cancer, there is hope for treatment and a cure.

October 31, 2021



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