Medullary carcinoma of thyroid
Alternate Names : Thyroid - medullary carcinoma, Cancer - thyroid (medullary carcinoma), MTC
Treatment
Treatment involves surgery to remove the thyroid gland and surrounding lymph nodes. Because this is an uncommon tumor, surgery should be performed by a surgeon who is familiar with this type of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation do not work very well for this type of cancer. Radiation is used in some patients after surgery. There are a number of new treatments currently being investigated in clinical trials.
Support Groups
For additional information, see cancer support groups.
Prognosis (Expectations)
Approximately 86% of those with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid live at least 5 years after diagnosis. The 10-year survival rate is 65%.
Complications
Complications may include: - Cancer spreads to other areas of the body
- Parathyroid glands are accidentally removed during surgery
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.
|
Previous
