Life after thyroid cancer treatment

The article was written by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Minh Thuyen - Pathologist - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital

For many people with thyroid cancer, treatment can remove or destroy the cancer. After completing treatment, you may feel relief at the end of treatment, but it's hard not to worry about the cancer growing or coming back. This is a common concern if you have cancer. Get information about living well after thyroid cancer treatment to help you make decisions about your next life.

For others, thyroid cancer may never go away completely, or it may recur in another part of the body. These patients may receive regular treatment with chemotherapy, radiation, or other therapies to help keep the cancer under control for as long as possible. Learning to live with cancer can be difficult and very stressful.
>>> Notes when taking care of patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer
1.1 Follow-up care If you have finished treatment, doctors still want you to be closely monitored. It is very important to follow up with your appointment on time. Doctors will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and may order blood or imaging tests such as a thyroid scan or an ultrasound. Follow-up is needed to check for recurrence or spread of the cancer, as well as possible side effects of some treatments. This is where you can ask any questions and discuss any concerns.
Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may take a few weeks to a few months, but others can last longer. Some side effects may not even appear until years after you have finished treatment. It is important for all thyroid cancer survivors to report any new symptoms or problems, because they may be due to a recurrence of the cancer or a new disease or secondary cancer. two.
Most people comply very well after treatment, but follow-up care is important because most thyroid cancers grow slowly and can recur even 10 to 20 years after treatment first time.

1.2 Follow-up and follow-up tests Doctors will explain what tests you need and how often they should be done. Your doctor's schedule of visits, tests, and tests will depend on the extent of the disease at first, the type of thyroid cancer, its treatment, and other factors.

>>> Stages of thyroid cancer
Papillary or follicular cancer If you already have papillary or follicular cancer and your thyroid has been completely removed, your doctor may consider at least one thyroid scan. The next time after treatment, especially if you have a higher risk of recurrence, is done about 6 to 12 months later. If the results are negative, you won't need further work unless you have symptoms or other abnormal test results.
You will also have your blood levels of TSH and thyroglobulin checked regularly. Thyroglobulin is made by thyroid tissue, so after a total thyroidectomy, it should be very low or absent in the blood. If thyroglobulin levels begin to rise, it could be a sign that the cancer has returned, and further testing is needed, including a thyroid scan, and possibly a PET scan and other imaging tests.
For patients with small, low-risk papillary cancers treated with removal of only one lobe of the thyroid gland, often with regular physical exams, thyroid ultrasounds, and thyroid blood tests .
Medullary thyroid cancer If you have medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), your doctors will check your blood levels of calcitonin and embryonic antigen - carcinoembryonic (CEA) . If they start to increase, imaging tests such as a neck ultrasound or a CT or MRI scan will be done to detect a recurrence of the cancer.
Each type of thyroid cancer treatment has side effects that can last for a few months. Take thyroid hormone medication, possibly for life. You can speed up your recovery by being aware of side effects before you start treatment. Don't hesitate to tell your doctor about any symptoms or side effects so they can help you manage them.

1.3 Ask your doctor about a survival care plan Talk to your doctor about creating a survival care plan for you. This plan may include:
Suggest a schedule for monitoring and doing tests A list of late or long-term side effects, including what to watch for and when you should contact your doctor Schedule for other tests you may need, like early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer or tests to look for long-term health effects from cancer or its treatments Tips on how diet and physical activity can improve your health, including potentially reducing your risk of cancer coming back. 1.4 Keep health insurance and copies of medical records Even after treatment, keeping health insurance is important. And although no one wants to think that their cancer will come back, it can. At some point after cancer treatment, you may see a new doctor, and they don't know about the money. your medical history. Therefore, keep copies of your medical records to provide the new doctor with the details of your diagnosis and treatment.

1.5 Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of my cancer progressing or coming back? If you have (or have had) thyroid cancer, you may want to know if there are things you can do to reduce your risk of the cancer developing or coming back, such as exercising, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. or nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, these are still unclear...
Adopting habits such as not smoking, eating healthy, getting regular physical activity and keeping a healthy weight is very important. These changes can have a positive impact on your health, and may even outweigh your risk of cancer.
Dietary Supplements To date, dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) have not been clearly shown to reduce the risk of advanced or recurrent thyroid cancer. .
If you think about taking any kind of nutritional supplement, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide which ones you can safely use while avoiding those that could be harmful.

If the cancer comes back If the cancer does recur at some point, the treatment options will depend on the location of the cancer, previous treatments, and your current health and desires. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of some of these.
1.6 Get emotional support Some patients feel depressed, anxious, it is normal when thyroid cancer is already a part of your life. Some people are affected more than others. But everyone can benefit from the help and support of others, whether friends and family, religious groups, support groups, professional counselors, or others.

After thyroid cancer treatment, many people can be affected by a number of health problems, but often their biggest concern is facing another cancer. Cancer that comes back after treatment is called relapse. But some people can develop a new type of cancer, not related to a previous cancer, called a second cancer.
Unfortunately, being treated for cancer doesn't mean you can't get another cancer. People who already have thyroid cancer can still get the same types of cancer as other people get. In fact, they may be at risk for several types of cancer:
Breast cancer (in women) Prostate cancer Kidney cancer Adrenal cancer

The risk of adrenal cancer is especially high in people with medullary thyroid cancer.
Patients treated with radioactive iodine also have an increased risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), stomach cancer, and salivary gland cancer.

After completing treatment for thyroid cancer, you should see your doctor regularly. You may also have tests to detect cancer that has come back or spread. Experts do not recommend any additional tests to look for a second cancer in asymptomatic patients. Tell your doctor about any new symptoms or problems, because they could be due to recurrent thyroid cancer, or a new disease or second cancer.
All patients should avoid secondhand smoke, as smoking increases the risk of many cancers.
To help maintain good health you should also:
Maintain a healthy weight Adopt an active lifestyle Have a healthy diet that focuses on plant foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) whole grains), limit and avoid red meat and processed foods, sugary drinks... Limit alcohol use to no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 drinks per day for men This may also reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Article referenced source: American Cancer Society