MedicineNet

home > cancer center > cancer a-z list > thyroid cancer index > thyroid cancer article

Thyroid Cancer (cont.)

Sources of support

Learning that you have thyroid cancer can change your life and the lives of those close to you. These changes can be hard to handle. It's normal for you, your family, and your friends to need help coping with the feelings that a diagnosis of cancer can bring.

Concerns about treatments and managing side effects, hospital stays, and medical bills are common. You may also worry about caring for your family, keeping your job, or continuing daily activities.

Here's where you can go for support:

  • Doctors, nurses, and other members of your health care team can answer questions about treatment, working, or other activities.
  • Social workers, counselors, or members of the clergy can be helpful if you want to talk about your feelings or concerns. Often, social workers can suggest resources for financial aid, transportation, home care, or emotional support.
  • Support groups also can help. In these groups, patients or their family members meet with other patients or their families to share what they have learned about coping with cancer and the effects of treatment. Groups may offer support in person, over the telephone, or on the Internet. You may want to talk with a member of your health care team about finding a support group.
  • NCI's Cancer Information Service can help you locate programs, services, and NCI publications. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). Or, chat using LiveHelp, NCI's instant messaging service, at https://livehelp.cancer.gov.

For tips on coping, you may want to read the NCI booklet Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer.

Taking part in cancer research

Doctors all over the world are conducting many types of clinical trials (research studies in which people volunteer to take part). Research has already led to advances in the treatment of thyroid cancer.

Doctors continue to search for new and better ways to treat thyroid cancer. They are testing new treatments, especially chemotherapy.

Clinical trials are designed to find out whether new treatments are safe and effective. Even if the people in a trial don't benefit directly, they may still make an important contribution by helping doctors learn more about thyroid cancer and how to control it. Although clinical trials may pose some risks, researchers do all they can to protect their patients.

If you're interested in being part of a clinical trial, talk with your doctor. You may want to read the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. It describes how treatment studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks.

NCI's website includes a section on clinical trials at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. It has general information about clinical trials as well as detailed information about specific ongoing studies of thyroid cancer.

NCI's Cancer Information Service can answer your questions and provide information about clinical trials. Contact CIS at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) or at LiveHelp (https://livehelp.cancer.gov).

Another agency of the Federal Government, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), sponsors research studies for people with thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases. NIDDK's website is at http://www.niddk.nih.gov.

You can find NCI and NIDDK studies described at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. This website provides the latest information about federally and privately supported clinical trials.

SOURCE:

"What You Need To Know About Thyroid Cancer." NIH National Cancer Institute. 7 May 2012.


Reviewed on 5/7/2012

Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Thyroid Cancer - Share Your Surgery Experience Question: Please share your experience with surgery for thyroid cancer.
Thyroid Cancer - Symptoms Question: The symptoms of thyroid cancer can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Thyroid Cancer - Treatments Question: What was the treatment for your thyroid cancer?
Print
MedicineNet Doctors

Suggested Reading on Thyroid Cancer by Our Doctors

  • Related Diseases & Conditions

    24 articles
    • Hypothyroidism
      • Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the
    • Swollen Lymph Nodes
      • Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites).
    • Lung Cancer
      • Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Eight out of 10 lung cancers are due to tobacco smoke. Lung cancers are classified
    • High Blood Pressure
      • High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above 140
    • Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)
      • Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should
    • Diarrhea
      • Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms
    • Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
      • Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the US. This conditions is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Symptoms
    • Thyroid Disease
      • There are many types of thyroid disease. Some occur due to the function of the thyroid itself such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
    • Hyperthyroidism
      • Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight loss, depression,
    • Thyroid Nodules
      • Thyroid nodules are the most common endocrine problem in the United States. The term "thyroid nodule" refers to any abnormal growth that forms a lump in
    • Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
      • Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and non-prescription drugs and certain medical conditions. Symptoms of dry mouth include a sticky,
    • Neck Pain
      • Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck
    • Cough
      • Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette
    • Hair Loss
      • There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This featured article covers the common ones such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and
    • Nausea and Vomiting
      • Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The
    • Chest Pain
      • Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia,
    • Cancer
      • Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer
    • Pheochromocytoma
      • Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal gland. Pheochromocytomas are quite rare and the vast majority of them are entirely benign. Only very rarely
    • Liver
      • The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins
    • Dysphagia
      • Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a
    • Dry Skin
      • Dry skin (xeroderma) may be caused by external factors, like cold temperatures, low humidity, harsh soaps, and certain medications, or internal factors,
    • Cancer Risk Factors
      • Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing
    • Tumor (Grade)
      • Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in how likely the tumor is to grow, and how abnormal they look under a microscope. Tumor grade is
    • Cancer Prevention
      • Certain behavioral, lifestyle, and environmental factors contribute to cancer. Cancer prevention involves modifying these factors to decrease cancer risk.

  • Medications

    3 articles

  • Procedures & Tests

    13 articles

  • Pictures, Images & Quizzes

    5 articles

  • Doctor's & Expert's Views

    11 articles

  • Health News

    17 articles

  • Health Features

    11 articles
Privacy Policy

Cancer

Get the latest treatment options.

Please acknowledge your agreement

Symptom Checker: Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain

From WebMD

Cancer Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE!