Thyroid Cancer Specialist

What is thyroid cancer?

Your thyroid is the small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces the hormones that regulate your metabolism, respiration, and other critical body functions.

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in your thyroid mutate and multiply rapidly, and a tumor develops. The disease also has a high rate of recurrence.

Your risk of thyroid cancer is higher if you have a family history of thyroid cancer or have been exposed to high doses of radiation. Women are more likely than men to develop thyroid cancer.

What are the signs of thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer usually causes a lump or nodule on your thyroid but doesn’t necessarily cause any other symptoms. As your tumor grows, you may feel a lump through the skin on your neck. If the cancer compresses your larynx, your voice may change and become hoarse. A large tumor could make it difficult to swallow and cause pain in your neck and throat.

How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

Thyroid cancer doesn’t necessarily affect your hormone production, so blood tests aren’t a reliable diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer.

However, Dr. Brett is endocrine-certified in neck ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, which are both critical tools in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Dr. Brett begins with an external exam, feeling your throat for signs of abnormal growth. If she finds abnormal tissue on your thyroid, she offers neck ultrasounds and FNA biopsy procedures in the convenience of her office.

How is thyroid cancer treated?

Thyroid cancer treatment recommendations evolve frequently. Dr. Brett attends conferences and training events to stay up-to-date with the most recent guidelines and best practices.

As an endocrinologist, she is your primary physician for thyroid cancer treatment. Dr. Brett collaborates with some of the best surgeons and nuclear medicine physicians in the city to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment for your thyroid cancer.

Surgery is one of the primary approaches to thyroid cancer. Your surgeon may remove your thyroid in part or full, depending on the size of your tumor. They may also remove the lymph nodes in your neck to check if your cancer has spread.

After a thyroidectomy, you may need a course of radioactive iodine, chemotherapy, or radiation to ensure that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed.

Dr. Brett prescribes synthetic thyroid hormones to protect your health. Synthetic thyroid hormones also suppress the production of thyroid-stimulating hormones, which could trigger the growth of any remaining cancer cells.

If you are concerned about thyroid cancer, call Elise M. Brett, MD, PC or make an appointment online today for state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment.