What else can I do if my thyroid cancer has come back?

Recurrence of thyroid cancer is the recurrence of cancer cells in the thyroid, or metastasis to other parts of the body, after treatment. Treatment options may include the following:

  • Surgery or surgery combined with radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment.
  • Treatment with RAI for recurrent or metastatic cancer that is not detected on physical examination and is found only by thyroid scan.
  • Try the targeted drug sorafenib (sorafenib), which is indicated for advanced differentiated thyroid cancer that has failed to respond to RAI therapy.
  • Palliative treatments, such as external radiation therapy or intraoperative radiation therapy, can provide symptomatic relief and improve quality of life.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Participation in clinical trials of targeted therapies.