Thyroid cancer treatment at GenesisCare

• Papillary carcinoma (papillary thyroid cancer) – the most common type of thyroid cancer, making up around eight out of 10 cases in the UK
• Follicular carcinoma (follicular thyroid cancer) – accounts for around one in 10 cases in the UK
• Medullary thyroid carcinoma (medullary thyroid cancer) – accounts for less than one in 10 cases in the UK and can be inherited
• Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (anaplastic thyroid cancer) – accounts for around one in 50 cases in the UK and is the most serious type of thyroid cancer

We are the UK’s leading specialist private cancer care provider. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your treatment will be managed by a team of specialists working together, with you, to decide the best personalised care plan for your diagnosis. It is our commitment to offer world-class care to every patient with cancer.

There are a number of treatment options available for thyroid cancers at GenesisCare, such as:

• Surgery – removal of the cancerous tumours in the thyroid gland
• Radiotherapy – high-energy radiation which is targeted at the cancer cells
• Chemotherapy – anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs which destroy the cancerous cells
• Targeted therapy – a specialised group of drugs that attack or block certain processes in cancer cells

At GenesisCare we diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers, and we understand that this can be a very worrying time. Our diagnostic services are first-class, and our commitment is to give you the answers you need, as quickly as possible. It’s important to remember that symptoms can often be caused by other conditions, not thyroid cancer. But whatever your diagnosis we can make sure you get the expert care you need and without delay.

If you’re concerned about thyroid cancer symptoms, we offer fast access to specialist thyroid cancer diagnostics and expert consultants who specialise in conditions affecting the head and neck including the thyroid, larynx and throat. They’ll assess your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you for diagnostic tests such as blood tests, a biopsy or an ultrasound scan. You may also need to see one of our speech and language specialists (SLT).

Thyroid cancers usually develop slowly, and there may not be any noticeable signs at first. These symptoms can also be caused by other non-cancerous conditions, so thyroid cancer can be tricky to diagnose.

The most common signs of thyroid cancer are:

• A sore throat
• A lump in the neck
• A hoarse voice
• Breathing difficulties
• Swollen neck glands
• Swallowing difficulties

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it’s best to speak to your doctor. If you have any concerns, you should seek medical advice or book an appointment through our Rapid Access Head and Neck Service.

There are various procedures for thyroid gland cancer surgery, and your surgeon will recommend the most appropriate type according to the size and location of your tumour.

Our team also includes specialists such as speech and language therapists and dietitians who may be involved in preparing you for surgery and helping with your recovery and rehabilitation.

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these.

At GenesisCare, we are the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK and offer world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and advanced radiotherapy techniques. Our latest-generation radiotherapy machines (called linacs) deliver highly targeted radiation beams that are designed to be effective while minimising the radiation dose to healthy tissues.

Your treatment will be governed by our expert multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), consisting of oncologists, radiotherapists and medical physicists, who work together to ensure that you receive only the best possible care.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a modern radiotherapy technique that directs beams of radiation in an arc across the treatment area. Together with surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT), it’s possible to precisely target areas of cancer, adjusting the beam and intensity of the radiation dose to allow for movements in the body and avoid healthy tissues. Side effects of radiotherapy occur when healthy tissues receive radiation, so using this technique helps to limit the dose to tissues and organs surrounding the tumour. At GenesisCare, we offer VMAT wherever possible as it is widely recognised to be the highest standard of care currently available for patients needing this type of radiotherapy.

Radioactive iodine is an internal radiotherapy technique for treating papillary and follicular thyroid cancers after surgery. The radioisotope is given as a drink or capsules, and the cancerous thyroid cells absorb the iodine and receive a very high dose of radiation. The side effects of radioactive iodine treatment are limited because other parts of the body don’t absorb as much iodine as cells in the thyroid gland.

We also offer palliative VMAT radiotherapy for those living with advanced thyroid cancer, where it has spread elsewhere in the body, to improve pain and increase mobility. We understand that fast access to palliative care is paramount and can usually provide treatment within 48 hours of a planning imaging scan.

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you start your course of radiotherapy, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these.

Our dedicated cancer centres are convenient and easy-to-access. You can use your private medical insurance, and we‘re recognised by all leading insurers.

We‘re proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Find out more about the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.