Thyroid Cancer Surgery in Turkey

Thyroid cancer is a type of tumor that occurs in the cells of the thyroid gland, which are found in the larynx area and regulate conditions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Symptoms may not appear in the early stages of thyroid cancer. However, as the cancer progresses, symptoms such as nodule formation in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, pain in the neck and throat may occur. In most thyroid cancers, the main treatment is surgery to remove the tumor.

How is Thyroid Cancer Surgery Performed?

Thyroid cancer can be diagnosed with a physical examination, blood tests, ultrasound imaging, biopsy, and genetic tests. Other imaging tests may be required to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas. The surgery is planned according to the results.

The type of surgery is determined by the kind and size of the cancer and the results of the tests which is performed before. The tumor and all or part of the remaining thyroid gland are removed by making an incision in the front of the neck. If there is no suspicion of cancer in other areas, part of the thyroid may be left to help regulate calcium levels. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, these will also be removed during surgery.

After Thyroid Cancer Surgery

The hospitalization after thyroid cancer surgery is usually 1-2 days. There may be pain during swallowing, hoarseness, or low calcium levels for a few days after surgery. However, these effects usually improve over time. After surgery, thyroid hormone medication and additional treatments can be applied according to your doctor’s recommendation. It is important that you follow the necessary controls regularly.