Can thyroid cancer be cured with surgery?
Yes. Papillary thyroid cancer (the most common type, over 80% of cases) has 98%+ 10-year survival after total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine ablation at specialist centers. Even follicular and medullary thyroid cancers have excellent outcomes when diagnosed and treated early by experienced endocrine surgeons.
Is lumpectomy as effective as mastectomy for breast cancer?
For early-stage breast cancer (Stage I-II), lumpectomy plus radiation therapy has equivalent survival outcomes to mastectomy, with extensive evidence from randomized trials. Breast conservation surgery is the preferred approach for eligible patients, preserving body image and quality of life without compromising cancer control.
What is Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) in thyroid surgery?
IONM is a real-time monitoring technique that continuously tracks the electrical signal of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid surgery. It alerts the surgeon to any nerve manipulation before permanent damage occurs, reducing permanent voice change risk from 2-5% (without monitoring) to under 0.5% at experienced centers.
What is Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) in thyroid surgery?
IONM is a real-time monitoring technique that continuously tracks the electrical signal of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid surgery. It alerts the surgeon to any nerve manipulation before permanent damage occurs, reducing permanent voice change risk from 2-5% (without monitoring) to under 0.5% at experienced centers.
Should I get BRCA testing if I have a family history of breast cancer?
Yes. BRCA1/BRCA2 testing is recommended if you have a first-degree relative with breast cancer before age 50, bilateral breast cancer in a relative, male breast cancer in the family, or family history of ovarian cancer. BRCA positive carriers can consider risk-reducing surgery and enhanced surveillance protocols.
What is the difference between total thyroidectomy and hemithyroidectomy?
Total thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid gland, required for thyroid cancer, Graves' disease, and large bilateral goiters. Hemithyroidectomy removes only one lobe, appropriate for a solitary benign nodule or indeterminate FNAC when cancer probability is low. Hemithyroidectomy preserves the contralateral lobe function, potentially avoiding lifelong thyroxine replacement.
