Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 40, Just Had Thyroid Cancer Surgery. Is It Safe For Her To Keep Aggressively Campaigning For Arkansas Governor?

"She will spend the remaining portion of her recovery at home,” reads a statement from her communications director Judd Deere. “Sarah is in great spirits and remains grateful for the exceptional care and service provided by the doctors and nurses.

“Sarah and her entire family are appreciative of the prayers and well-wishes from Arkansans and many friends from across the country."

Additionally, one of her doctors said that she would need adjuvant treatment with radioactive iodine and long-term continuing care. Deere told The Associated Press that Sanders plans to resume campaigning "soon," but he did not give an exact date of when she would return.

But is it safe for her to do so? That’s why we’ve consulted with Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.

“In general, most thyroidectomy cases can be discharged home on the same day or after an overnight observation,” Dr. Ho said in a statement for SurvivorNet. “We usually recommend no heavy lifting or straining for at least one week.”

“Many patients can resume light activity such as walking and talking within the first day.  It sounds like she will begin campaigning in the next week after surgery.  If campaigning does not lead to significant exertion, it is likely safe if the patient feels well enough to do so.”

Understanding Thyroid Cancer Sarah Sanders’ Cancer

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid gland which makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Treatments for this type of cancer can include surgery, hormone therapy, radioactive iodine, radiation and chemotherapy.

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Spotting thyroid cancer can often be difficult. The American Cancer Society reports that symptoms may include a lump, swelling or pain in the neck, voice changes, trouble swallowing or breathing or even a constant cough.

"Most people have no discrete symptoms the majority of cases now are found incidentally," Dr. Ho said in a previous interview with SurvivorNet. "However, a sizable number of people may first discover their cancer when they feel a bump on their neck. Other possible late symptoms include problems swallowing, the sensation of something in their throat, neck compression when laying flat or voice changes."

The good news is that many of these possible symptoms, including lumps in the thyroid, are both common and commonly benign but it never hurts to ask your doctor. Chances of cancer recovery increase significantly with early detection, so it's important to address any warning signs of thyroid cancer, or any cancer for that matter, with a medical expert swiftly.

Thriving after Cancer

A cancer diagnosis will change your life. But we've seen so many survivors thrive on the other side of their cancer journey.

Take Marecya Burton, for example. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 20 years old. Burton was a college student-athlete looking forward to graduation at the time, but all that had to change when she was forced to move home to start treatment.

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"That was definitely challenging for me," Burton said in a previous interview with SurvivorNet. "I was looking forward to graduating."

She also had planned on pursuing a law degree after graduation another dream she had to give up.

"I really had to, in a sense, put my life on hold," she said. "Sometimes I look at where I am, and I can't help but wonder, would I be further had I not had my diagnosis?"

But instead of law school, Burton found a new passion: teaching. She became a high school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland, and she's since made peace with her new direction in life.

"I wouldn't change my career for the world," she says. "It's so fulfilling."

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.