What to do if thyroid cancer causes swallowing problems

Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine tumor in clinical practice, which can be caused by genetics, radiation and other factors. If a patient has dysphagia caused by thyroid cancer, it is often considered that the thyroid cancer invades or compresses the esophagus and recurrent laryngeal nerve. It is recommended that the patient receive treatment under the guidance of a doctor through medication, surgery and other methods.

1. Reasons:

Because the thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, thyroid cancer may compress or invade the esophagus, or affect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing swallowing difficulties. If not treated in time, it may cause severe hypoxia, water and electrolyte disorders, and endanger the patient's life.

2. Treatment:

1. Drug treatment: Swallowing disorders caused by thyroid cancer are generally not effectively treated with drugs. Under the guidance of a doctor, iodine-131 can be used for treatment. The beta rays released by iodine-131 can destroy the thyroid follicular epithelial cells, shrink the thyroid gland, and not affect the adjacent tissues. Patients can also use drugs such as levothyroxine sodium tablets and propylthiouracil tablets for treatment under the guidance of a doctor;

2. Surgical treatment: If the patient has severe dysphagia and has been in a dysphagia state for a long time, surgical treatment should be performed in time to help the patient improve symptoms and improve the quality of life. Common surgical methods include total resection, lateral resection, microwave ablation, laser ablation, etc.

Thyroid cancer patients should also pay attention to regular color Doppler ultrasound examinations after surgery to detect recurrence or metastasis in a timely manner. They should also pay attention to maintaining a happy mood on a daily basis and eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and other foods rich in vitamins and proteins, which are also conducive to physical recovery.