FOLLOW UP 

Patients need a regular checkup after treatment for thyroid cancer. Even though the treatment is finished, but the disease sometimes may return because cancer cells remain somewhere in the body. 

THYROID HORMONE THERAPY 

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. After thyroid cancer surgery, the thyroid hormone medication must be taken. Thyroid hormone pills have two benefits:

1. It supplies the missing hormone your thyroid would normally produce.
2. It prevents the body from making thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone that can increase the chance that thyroid cancer will grow or recur.

Thyroid hormone pills seldom cause side effects which are:

• Too much thyroid hormone may cause you to lose weight and feel hot and sweaty. It may also cause a fast heart rate, chest pain, cramps, and diarrhea.
• Too little thyroid hormone may cause you to gain weight, feel cold and tired, and have dry skin and hair.
• If you have side effects, your doctor can adjust your dose of thyroid hormone. Your doctor gives you blood tests to make sure you're getting the right dose of thyroid hormone.

CHECK UP 

May include one or more of the following imaging test:

• Ultrasound
• Whole Body Scan: To get ready for this check up, you either (i) stop taking thyroid hormone pill for several weeks or (ii) get an injection of TSH. Most people need to avoid eating shellfish (i.e., kerang, lala and others) and iodized salt for a week or two before the scan.
• PET Scan
• CT Scan

BLOOD TEST 

An important test after thyroid cancer treatment is measures the level of THS and thyroglobulin in the blood. Thyroid hormone is normally stored in the thyroid as thyroglobulin. If the whole thyroid has been removed, there should be very little or no thyroglobulin in the blood. A high level of thyroglobulin may mean that thyroid cancer cells have returned.To get ready for this test, you either:

• Stop taking your usual thyroid hormone pills for several weeks (usually 6 weeks). For part of this time, some patients may take a different shorter-lasting thyroid hormone pill. However, all patients must stop taking any type of thyroid hormone pill for the last two weeks right before the test.(without the enough level of thyroid hormone, you will feel uncomfortable, gain weight and feel very tired).
• Get an injection of TSH. TSH causes them to release thyroglobulin, if the thyroid cancer cells still remain in the body after treatment. People who get this injection do not have to stop taking their thyroid hormone pill.

CONNECT WITH OTHER THYROID CANCER SURVIVORS

• It might find comfort in talking with people in the same situation.

 
CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR HEALTH 

• Eat a healthy diet full of a variety of fruits and vegetables, get enough sleep each night, and try to include the physical activities into most days of the week.

Updated:: 18/03/2019 []