Treatments for thyroid cancer

Last medical review:

When you have thyroid cancer, your healthcare team creates a treatment plan just for you. The plan is based on your health and specific information about the cancer. What you want is also important when planning treatment. When deciding which treatments to offer for thyroid cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • the type of thyroid cancer
  • the stage
  • the risk group
  • possible side effects
  • your age
  • your overall health
  • any medical problems you have
  • your lifestyle and what you prefer or want

Surgery and hormone therapy are the main treatments for thyroid cancer. Radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy may also be used.

Treatments for papillary thyroid cancer

Treatments for papillary thyroid cancer (papillary carcinoma) include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.

Treatments for follicular thyroid cancer

Follicular thyroid cancer (follicular carcinoma) can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.

Treatments for anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (anaplastic carcinoma) can be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and surgery.

Treatments for medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer can be treated with surgery, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy.

Surgery for thyroid cancer

Surgery is a medical procedure to examine, remove or repair tissue. Thyroid cancer is usually treated with surgery.

Hormone therapy for thyroid cancer

Hormone therapy affects hormones that cancer cells need to grow. Thyroid cancer is usually treated with hormone therapy.

Radiation therapy for thyroid cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Thyroid cancer is sometimes treated with radiation therapy.

Targeted therapy for thyroid cancer

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules on cancer cells. Thyroid cancer is sometimes treated with targeted therapy.

Chemotherapy for thyroid cancer

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Thyroid cancer is sometimes treated with chemotherapy.

Follow-up after treatment for thyroid cancer

Follow-up is an important part of care for thyroid cancer. It often involves regular tests and visits with the healthcare team.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.


1-888-939-3333 | cancer.ca | © 2024 Canadian Cancer Society