Many Russian patients seek to go abroad for thyroid cancer treatment. Clinics in Israel, Germany, Turkey, South Korea, and India have modern equipment that allows them to quickly and accurately diagnose the disease and eliminate it in a timely manner.
Diagnosis of thyroid cancer abroad
There are several forms of this disease, which is why it is so important to correctly diagnose it. Thyroid cancer treatment abroad includes the following diagnostic methods:
- examination by an endocrinologist – any changes in the thyroid gland are easily visible to the naked eye. Visually and with the help of palpation, it is possible to assess the enlargement of the gland, compaction, and the presence of nodular formations.;
- blood tests are given for thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone;
- Ultrasound – helps to determine the presence and size of a tumor;
- A biopsy is the most accurate diagnostic method. It is a collection of tumor cells for histological examination.;
- magnetic resonance therapy – determines the spread of the tumor to other organs;
- computed tomography – reveals the presence of metastases;
Methods of thyroid cancer treatment abroad
Thyroid cancer treatment abroad is usually carried out in a comprehensive manner and with the participation of several specialists at once: an oncologist, an oncosurgeon and an endocrinologist.
The treatment of thyroid cancer abroad is determined depending on the stage of the disease. The main methods of treatment are surgery, radioactive iodine treatment and radiation therapy.
Surgical removal of thyroid cancer is called thyroidectomy. It involves partial or complete (together with the lymph nodes) elimination of the thyroid gland. Foreign specialists try to use minimally invasive techniques when performing this intervention. This helps the patient recover faster and allows minimal damage to the skin.
Radioactive iodine treatment is also used abroad. The essence of the technique is that the iodine isotope is captured by cancer cells and destroys them. This method is mainly used after surgery to remove the remaining tumor cells. After complete removal of this type of cancer, the patient is transferred to hormone therapy, This is done because the thyroid gland can no longer independently produce certain types of hormones.
Another effective method of treating thyroid cancer abroad is the use of a gamma knife, a special computerized device that uses gamma rays to quickly destroy the tumor. At the same time, healthy tissues and organs are not affected.
