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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you suspect thyroid cancer, you're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. If your doctor suspects you may have a thyroid problem, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the endocrine system (endocrinologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For thyroid cancer, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What type of thyroid cancer do I have?
- What stage is my thyroid cancer?
- What treatments do you recommend?
- What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
- Will I be able to work and do my usual activities during thyroid cancer treatment?
- Should I seek a second opinion?
- Should I see a doctor who specializes in thyroid diseases? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
- How quickly do I need to make a decision about thyroid cancer treatment? Can I take some time to explore all of my options?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
- SEER stat fact sheets. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/hrml/thyro.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Thyroid carcinoma. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/thyroid.pdf. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- What you need to know about thyroid cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/thyroid/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Cancer of the thyroid. American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochurs/cancer_of_thyroid.html. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
- Lal G, et al. Cancer of the endocrine system. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1271.
- Thyroid scan and uptake. RadiologyInfo. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=thyroiduptake. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
- Dralle H, et al. Surgical approaches in thyroid cancer and lymph-node metastases. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008;22:971.
- Radioiodine (I-131) therapy for hyperthyroidism. RadiologyInfo. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=radioiodine. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
- Can thyroid cancer be prevented? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Can_thyroid_cancer_be_prevented_43.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Use of potassium iodide. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/protect-public/potassium-iodid-use.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- What can I do to prepare for a radiological emergency? United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/prepare-for-radiological-emerg.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Kronenberg HM, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:422.
- Nippoldt TB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 13, 2009.
