Thyroid Cancer Treatment in Israel

Typically, the first sign of thyroid cancer is the appearance of a nodular mass on the neck in the vicinity of the thyroid. Another possible first symptom is a disease is an enlarged cervical lymph node. Front neck pain and voice changes commonly develop at a later stage. It should be noted, however, that while thyroid nodules are a fairly common condition, they only turn out to be malignant in only about 5 percent of the cases. In patients under 20, however, the appearance of benign nodular cervical masses is extremely rare, so an immediate workup is required. Detailed below is our Thyroid cancer treatment in Israel program, which allows you to undergo all the necessary investigations and start treatment within days of your arrival.

Work-up

• Extensive blood work-up (CBC, CMP, coagulation factors, electrolyte levels, thyroid hormones, immunological markers and immunological tests for thyroid disease)
• If medullary carcinoma is suspected an additional blood calcitonin levels test will be ordered
• PET/CT Scan
• Thyroid Doppler ultrasound
• Thyroid FNA (sample will be sent for histopathological investigation)
• ENT surgeon exam

If severe hormone imbalance is detected, you will be referred for a pre-operative endocrinologist exam.

In certain cases, radioisotope thyroid scan will be scheduled to further assess tumour nodules.

The investigations (including biopsy results) will take 4 to 5 business days to complete. Your treating physicians, who are among the top specialists in Israel, will then decide on the most appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment Options

If a surgery is indicated, there are 2 options:

Option 1 – Total Thyroidectomy

• Routine preoperative preparation including an ECG, chest X-ray and an anesthesiologist consultation
• Operative procedure and 2 days of hospitalization at Assuta Medical Center
• Disposable surgical materials
• Express biopsy and definitive histopathological study

Option 2 (If Cervical Nodes are Involved) – Total Thyroidectomy & Neck Dissection

• Routine preoperative preparation including an ECG, chest X-ray and an anesthesiologist consultation
• Operative procedure and 3 days of hospitalization at Assuta Medical Center
• Disposable surgical materials
• Express biopsy and definitive histopathological study

It is advised you remain in Israel for approximately 7 days following your discharge from the hospital

All diagnostics and treatment will take place at the state-of-the-art Assuta Tel-Aviv Center.

You will be asked to return to Israel approximately a month to a month and a half following the surgery for thyroid scintigraphy and ablation at Tel HaShomer Medical Center.

The ablation includes pre-procedure work-up, radioactive iodine treatment and post-ablation monitoring.

• Pre-procedure work-up:
  • Extensive blood workup
  • Thyroid/thyroid bed US scan
  • Endocrinologist's exam
  • Radiation therapist consultation

• Radioactive iodine treatment:
  • Radioactive iodine ablation of tumour and possible metastases
  • 3 days of hospitalization at the hospital's isolation unit

• Post-ablation monitoring:
  • Endocrinologist's consultation
  • Iodine-131 scintigraphy

The pre-procedure workup takes 3-4 business days, and hospitalization at the isolation unit up to 3 days. It is advised you remain in Israel for approximately 7 days following your discharge.

Because thyroid cancer is a disease that tends to affect young patients, it is not uncommon for them to not seek medical help when symptoms first appear, thus losing valuable time. Don't make that mistake! Our diagnostics program will determine if the nodule is indeed cancerous (as opposed to a benign adenoma), the extent of thyroid involvement, and whether metastases into cervical lymph nodes and/or distant metastases have taken place.