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Is it possible to predict the survival rate for advanced forms of thyroid cancer based on the type of treatment? Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX set out to answer this question by reviewing the past records of 158 patients (64 men and 94 women) who had been treated for follicular thyroid cancer. They presented their findings at the International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer held in San Francisco this past summer.
Of those who had only part of the thryoid gland removed, the recurrence rate was higher. Additional surgery after recurrence did not seem to increase the survival rate. The survival rates were significantly worse when the cancer had spread to other areas of the body (metasases). That is true with most types of cancer. Age did not seem to change the recurrence rate, however the older the patient at diagnosis the worse the survival rate. Indicating that age at diagnosis may be a predictor. The authors concluded that removal of the whole thryoid (thyroidectomy) followed by RAI (radioactive iodine therapy with I 131) seemed to produce the best rate of cancer control. Keep in mind that this was a rather limited sample, only 158 people who had sought treatment and were followed up at one facility. It would be very difficult to project these findings to include all people diagnosed and treated for thyroid cancer. As always, talk to your healthcare provider and with others who have been treated. Weigh your options and choose the path that is best for you.
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The copyright of the article New Clues to Determining Thyroid Cancer Survival Rates in Thyroid Disease is owned by Keri. Permission to republish New Clues to Determining Thyroid Cancer Survival Rates in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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