Emotional Effects of Radioactive Thyroid Pill
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Thyroid Cancer at a Glance
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The thyroid is a gland that can be found at the front of your neck and is responsible for making thyroid hormone and calcitonin. Sometimes, extra cells build up around the thyroid gland, forming a nodule. According to the National Cancer Institute, while more than 90 percent of nodules are found to be benign, sometimes these nodules are found to be malignant. When a nodule is malignant, it is cancer. Malignant nodules can spread and be potentially life-threatening. If you feel a lump in the front of your neck, or you are experiencing hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or pain in the neck, see your doctor to be screened for thyroid cancer. The doctor will perform several tests, including a biopsy, to determine whether the nodule is cancerous.
Dealing With a Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis
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Once you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you face many difficult challenges. You may worry about your family, your job, the treatment you will have to go through, and other aspects of your life. In a 2008 study sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Program, 16 participants diagnosed with thyroid cancer reported that their diagnosis was life-changing, and that they felt as though they were being dismissed as though thyroid cancer is not a serious disease. These participants were aware that thyroid cancer is highly curable and were informed that it was a "good cancer," but this knowledge was not reassuring. Regardless of the type of cancer, people are generally overwhelmed by a cancer diagnosis.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment at a Glance
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Many treatment options are available for treating thyroid cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, radioactive iodine treatment has been shown to effectively treat some forms of thyroid cancer. This form of treatment is usually given in the form of a capsule or a pill, and patients are usually isolated during treatment to avoid exposing others to radiation. Most of the radiation is gone after one week, and within three weeks, only traces of radiation will be found in the body. Radioactive iodine treatment has many potential side effects, including dry mouth, neck tenderness, and nausea. The American Cancer Society also cites that people receiving this treatment are also exposed to a greater rick of leukemia in the future.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment and Your Emotions
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The risks associated with radioactive iodine treatment are serious and should not be taken lightly. The level of uncertainty associated with these risks can leave you feeling worried and unsure of whether to proceed with treatment. In the 2008 study following 16 people with thyroid cancer, only two of the 16 participants felt as though the choice to go through with radioactive iodine treatment was their own, and many felt like it was their only choice. Some participants having a recurrence of thyroid cancer following this treatment found difficulty making sense of the recurrence and sometimes blamed themselves. Whether or not to proceed with this treatment should be an informed decision, and patients should feel comfortable asking as many questions as needed to feel secure.
Getting Support
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Any cancer treatment is sure to elicit strong feelings of worry. Getting the support of your family and friends is very important, as well as feeling comfortable with your doctors. The National Cancer Institute provides resources to people dealing with the emotions surrounding cancer treatment. Thyroid cancer is serious, so it is important that a patient does not allow himself to feel as though the decision for treatment is not in his hands. Ask questions, become informed with the risks and accept support from loved ones.
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