The prognosis of thyroid cancer is very much related to the type of pathology, among which papillary carcinoma has the best prognosis and it is possible to live a lifetime after surgery.
Thyroid cancer can be categorized into papillary carcinoma, follicular adenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma according to the pathology.
Among the four types, papillary carcinoma is the most common and has the best prognosis, with a lower degree of malignancy, and the survival period after surgery can reach several decades, and it is possible to live for the rest of one’s life; undifferentiated carcinoma is mostly seen in the elderly, highly malignant, with extremely poor prognosis, and the survival rate of one year is low, which is only 5-15%; follicular adenocarcinoma and medullary carcinoma have a malignant degree and a prognosis in between the two.
Surgery is the basic treatment for all types of thyroid cancer except undifferentiated carcinoma, and is supplemented by radionuclide, TSH inhibition, and external radiation. Generally speaking, the earlier thyroid cancer is detected and treated, the better the prognosis. Please seek medical attention if you feel unwell.