Follow Up for Thyroid Cancer

If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you may have been told that the prognosis for people with well-differentiated cancer (90% of all thyroid cancer cases) is good. The 5-year survival rate of people diagnosed with thyroid cancer is 96%, and the survival rate for well-differentiated thyroid cancer–related causes 30 years after initial therapy is about 90%. Recurrences are common and require disciplined follow-ups.

However, even as a long-term survivor, you still have to monitor for any possible recurrence. One danger following successful therapy is skipping some of your tests, especially if you’ve had a few years of negative tests. But it’s essential to follow the schedule your doctor recommends so you can catch any recurrence as early as possible.

This section provides an overview of what to expect in the years after thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy. It will also discuss the importance of follow-up testing.