Understanding Thyroid Treatment and Surgery
Ongoing, steady release of hormones from the thyroid gland is vital to systemic-wide health. These hormones include thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse triiodothyronine (RT3), and calcitonin, helping regulate calcium levels in your blood. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped, two-inch-long organ in the front of your neck. To produce its hormones, the thyroid needs iodine and water, with lacks or surpluses influencing functioning.
Thyroid hormones are essential, playing a significant role in growth, development, and metabolism – the system providing energy to the body for cells to consume food and function. Critically, the thyroid gland's functioning can affect every organ in the body if anything goes wrong. For example, metabolism management can impact breathing, body temperature, nerve and mental activity, digestion, and heart rate. It can also affect brain development, bone and skin maintenance, and fertility.
You may need thyroid surgery when there is a problem with the gland itself, such as nodules, goiter, or cancer. You can live without a thyroid but will need lifelong hormone replacement supplementation.
What Are Thyroid Disorders?
These common conditions comprise two types - primary and secondary. The first originates in your thyroid gland, and the second in the pituitary gland located in the brain. Four main concerns include hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), thyroid cancer, and goiter (an enlarged thyroid).
Hypothyroidism can be caused by an iodine deficiency, congenital thyroid nonfunctioning, an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's, or thyroiditis (thyroid inflammation). The condition can also occur after thyroid gland removal or when an overactive thyroid is over-treated.
Hyperthyroidism results from thyroid hormone overproduction, too much iodine, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, or an autoimmune condition called Grave's disease. It can also arise from a benign pituitary gland tumour or over-treated hypothyroidism.
Thyroid cancer can include papillary, slow-growing follicular, genetically-based medullary, and the more aggressive anaplastic types. However, most thyroid cancers are curable. An enlarged gland, or goiter, can be caused by too few thyroid hormones or low iodine concentrations, and often warrants goiter removal surgery.
What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Disease?
Symptoms include rapid or slow heart rate, cold or heat intolerance, unexplained weight gain or loss, anxiety or depression, irregular menstrual periods, fatigue, or swollen lymph glands. In addition, you can often see and feel goiters in the neck. The swelling can create a feeling of tightness in the throat and a hoarse or scratchy voice.
How Does Dr. Jane Screen for Thyroid Conditions?
Beyond a complete physical exam and medical history, standard tests can include blood tests to measure your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 and T4 levels. Then if the results are abnormal, Dr. Harding may order a thyroid scan or ultrasound.
How Are Thyroid Disorders Treated?
Once diagnosed, Jane will treat your condition with one or a combination of hormone medication, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and radioiodine therapies. Surgery recommendations for cancer, nodules and goiter could include a thyroidectomy - complete thyroid removal. Alternatively, you may benefit from a lobectomy – removing the affected part of your thyroid.
Trust Dr. Jane Harding for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Thyroid Removal Surgery
Diagnosing and treating your condition sooner rather than later is always recommended, whether hormone-replacement therapy, thyroid nodule removal, or goiter surgery. So, contact Dr. Harding's practice today to schedule your appointment.
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