How long is the life expectancy after thyroid cancer surgery

Many people are very scared about thyroid cancer. Doctors usually recommend surgical treatment for this disease. Will the surgery affect life expectancy? How long can you live after the surgery? Many people are unsure. So today we will find out how long you can live after thyroid cancer surgery.

Thyroid cancer is not just a simple symptom, so let’s first understand the life expectancy after surgery for each type of thyroid cancer. Let’s take a look at it together:

1. Papillary adenocarcinoma: It accounts for the vast majority of thyroid cancers, about 60 to 70 percent, and is more common in women and those under 40 years old. It is less malignant, progresses slowly, and has a good prognosis. After surgical treatment, more than 90 percent of patients can survive for a long time.

2. Follicular adenocarcinoma: It accounts for 15-20% of thyroid cancer. It is more common in middle-aged women, prone to distant metastasis, and has a moderate degree of malignancy. After surgical treatment, long-term use of thyroxine can achieve a cure rate of 80%, and life expectancy will not be greatly affected after surgery.

3. Medullary carcinoma: It accounts for 5 to 10% of cases. Sometimes, symptoms completely unrelated to the clinical manifestations of the disease may occur, such as diarrhea, facial flushing and sweating, asthma, and headache. This is due to the secretion of bioactive substances by cancer cells. Other manifestations are similar to those of general thyroid cancer, and the prognosis is good. The life span can also be extended according to the patient's self-care level.

4. Undifferentiated carcinoma: highly malignant, accounting for about 8% of thyroid cancers, mostly occurs in the elderly, with an average age of over 60 years old. It is characterized by a sudden increase in the size of the mass in the front of the neck, and the rapid onset of symptoms such as dyspnea, dysphagia, and hoarseness. The treatment effect is poor and the prognosis is poor.