Thyroid Cancer Treatment Side... Health Article

It is hard to limit the effects of treatment so that only cancer cells are removed or destroyed. Because treatment also effects healthy cells and tissues, it often causes side effects. Doctors and nurses can explain the possible side effects of the treatment. They can also suggest ways to help prevent or manage these side effects. It is important that patients let the doctor or nurse know if they have any side effects.

Side Effects of Surgery

Surgery causes temporary pain in the area of the operation. Patients are often uncomfortable during the first few days after surgery, but pain can be controlled with medication. Patients should discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse.

Patients sometimes feel tired or weak for a while following surgery. The length of time it takes a patient to recover from an operation varies. Surgery for thyroid cancer may also cause patients to be hoarse or to lose their voice. This might not go away. Other possible side effects are lowered blood calcium level, infection, and bleeding.

Side Effects of Radioactive Iodine

Radioactive iodine therapy does not usually cause side effects. Some patients may have neck pain, nausea, and dry mouth. Rarely, men may become infertile. Women who have undergone radioactive iodine therapy should not get pregnant for one year following treatment. It is also possible that a very small risk of leukemia and bladder cancer exists if very high doses are given.

Side Effects of Thyroid Hormone Therapy

Patients on thyroid hormone therapy need regular blood checks to avoid taking too little hormone (which would result in hypothyroidism) or taking too much hormone (which would result in hyperthyroidism). Signs of hypothyroidism include low energy, fatigue, sleepiness, weight gain, feeling cold all the time, hair loss, and dryness of the skin. Hyperthyroidism may cause nervousness, shaking, weight loss without dieting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation depend on what part of the body is treated. Common side effects of radiation include fatigue, skin changes, loss of appetite, low blood counts, and nausea. The person's skin may also feel and look sunburned.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. Side effects a patient may have depend on the type and amount of drug being taken. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, low blood counts, and fatigue. Less often, serious side effects, such as infection or bleeding, may occur.