Thyroid Specialist in Singapore
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated in the lower half of the neck, in front of the windpipe. It produces hormones that regulate the metabolic rate of the body.
What types of thyroid problems are there?
Thyroid Hormone Imbalance
Thyroid hormone imbalances come in two forms – hyperthyroidism where the gland over-secretes thyroid hormones, creating intolerance to warm environments, palpitations, general irritability, muscle weakness and weight loss in spite of an increased appetite; and hypothyroidism where too little of the hormone is produced and lethargy, intolerance to the cold and weight gain in spite of a poor appetite can happen.
Goitre
There is also goitre, which refers to the enlargement of the gland. This could be due to natural physiological changes during puberty or pregnancy, but if it causes compression of the windpipe or gullet, goitres may need to be surgically removed.
Cancer
Cancer can also occur in the thyroid gland, generally affecting more females than males. Symptoms include neck lumps that move when the patient swallows, enlarged lymph glands in the neck as well as hoarseness, difficulty breathing and swallowing in more advanced stages.
What treatments are available for thyroid cancer?
Surgery
Surgery is the foundation of treatment for most thyroid cancers. The most common surgery is a thyroidectomy, involving total or partial removal of the thyroid gland. The surgery aims to remove all cancerous nodules and tissue from the thyroid, and it may require removal of nearby lymph nodes as well (lymph node dissection).
Additional Treatments after Thyroid Surgery
After surgery, additional treatments may be recommended by your thyroid specialist depending on the type and stage of thyroid cancer:
Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy
This therapy uses I-131 radiation to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells. It is very effective at killing leftover cells and reducing recurrence risk. Patients take the RAI by mouth, usually in capsule or liquid form. RAI ablates thyroid remnants and treats metastases.
External beam radiation directs X-ray radiation precisely at the thyroid bed and lymph nodes to eradicate lingering cancerous cells post-surgery. This can improve cure rates in more advanced cancers. Side effects are typically minimal with modern techniques.
Thyroxine suppression therapy
This Therapy involves taking daily oral thyroid hormone medication (levothyroxine) to keep TSH levels low. This prevents stimulation of any residual thyroid cancer cells and stops further tumor growth. It is often used as follow-up after other treatments.
With early detection and proper management, thyroid cancer prognosis is usually very favorable. It is best to have a full evaluation by a thyroid specialist in Singapore or multidisciplinary team to determine which treatments or combination of approaches is suited to the individual case and cancer characteristics. Remission and cure are common outcomes with current therapeutic options.
Learn more about thyroid surgery here.
