Tumor is confined to the thyroid gland. If it is on one side, it is considered Stage IA. If on both sides or there is more than one lump, it is Stage IB.
Standard Treatment The standard surgical procedure is removal of one side of the thyroid (lobectomy), but about 20 percent of patients will have a recurrence . Enlarged lymph nodes are also removed. Thyroid hormone is then given to suppress the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland, which decreases the chance of recurrence.
Other options are a near-total or total thyroidectomy. The rationale for this is that there is an increased chance of multiple tumors in both lobes and any tumor left behind could change into the highly malignant (anaplastic) form. More important, scanning for metastases is possible once the thyroid is removed.
Five-Year Survival Over 95 percent
Stage II
Cancer has spread to lymph nodes (IIA if to nodes on one side, IIB if to both sides or the mediastinal nodes—those in the center of the upper chest).
