What’s It Like to Live as a Survivor?
For most people diagnosed with thyroid cancer, treatment involves surgery to remove the gland and, unless there are clear margins, a therapy designed to destroy cancer cells. It’s a stressful time both physically and emotionally. Some survivors have to undergo regular therapies because the cancer never goes away completely.
The loss of the thyroid gland does have an impact on the body, but a survivable one. After removal of the thyroid,
you must take synthetic thyroid hormones to help regulate the metabolism. Some might benefit from certain nutritionalsupplements that improve other areas, as well, like hair and nails. Of course, speak to your doctor before taking any supplements.
The good news is the death rate for thyroid cancerwith proper diagnosis and early detection is low.Symptoms include:
- A lump in the neck that you can feel through your skin
- Changes in your voice
- Trouble swallowing
- Pain in the neck or throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
If you areexperiencing any of these warning signs, it’s time to see your doctor to rule out thyroid cancer.