Hormone Therapy for Thyroid Cancer: Post-Surgical Applications

Hormones aren't first-line thyroid cancer treatment but serve postoperative roles:

1. Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy

After thyroidectomy, lifelong replacement maintains metabolism, prevents hypothyroidism, suppresses TSH (which can stimulate residual cancer cells).

2. Thyroid Hormone Suppressive Therapy

For metastatic disease: high-dose thyroid hormone suppresses TSH to inhibit cancer growth.

3. Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Therapy

Thyroid tissue (including cancer) absorbs iodine. RAI destroys thyroid cancer cells with minimal healthy tissue damage.

Hormonal therapy combines with surgery/RAI, monitored by endocrinologist. Not used for all thyroid cancer types/stages.