Thyroid problems may be caused by nodules or growths that form on the gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat that produces important hormones that control the metabolic rate, blood pressure and temperature of the body. In some cases, a nodule may be cancerous and surgery may be recommended to remove the gland. However, the National Cancer Institute underlines that thyroid treatment depends on the type of node, location, age and health of the individual, and if the node is cancerous, the type of cancer and how far it has spread. There are four types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
Medications that are used to treat thyroid conditions are mainly thyroid hormone therapy such as the drug levothyroxine. The National Cancer Institute explains that thyroid hormone medications are used as part of the treatment for follicular and papillary thyroid cancer and are also used in treating other thyroid conditions. Thyroid hormone suppression therapy is described by the Mayo Clinic as a possible method of treating benign (noncancerous) nodules on the thyroid gland. This treatment involves taking synthetic thyroid hormones to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce less thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which promotes the growth of thyroid tissue. This is thought to lead to the shrinking of a benign nodule on the gland. Thyroid hormone medications do not commonly cause side effects, and regular blood tests help to determine thyroid hormone levels in the blood.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a localized treatment for all types of thyroid cancers. The Mayo Clinic explains that radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays and charged particles to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. There are two primary types of radiation therapy: external and internal. External uses a beam from outside the body that passes through the skin and overlying tissues to the gland. Internal radiation therapy is also called brachytherapy and uses radioactive particles that are placed in the body close to the cancer cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend on the type of cancer and how aggressively it is treated. Radiation of the thyroid gland can cause mouth dryness, a sore-throat hoarseness and trouble swallowing. These side effects can be distressing but are temporary and diminish on their own shortly after treatment ends.
Chemotherapy
The National Cancer Institute reports that chemotherapy is commonly prescribed as a treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer but may also be used to relieve symptoms in other types of cancers of the thyroid gland.
Chemotherapy involves the use of medications to kill cancer cells throughout the body. These drugs are commonly given by injection into a vein and enter the blood stream where they can affect all cells of the body. Treatments can be given in a cancer clinic, hospital, doctor's office or at home. There are many side effects of chemotherapy, because it is a systemic treatment that affects the entire body. Side effects typically involve normal, healthy cells that have high rates of division, such as the cells that line the mouth, throat and stomach, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth sores and hair loss. Most side effects of chemotherapy subside after treatment ends.
