Grateful To Be Cancer-Free
- Sarah Sanders, a Republican candidate for governor in Arkansas, announced on Friday she underwent surgery to remove her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes.
- The loving wife and mom of three is now recovering and looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail after battling stage 1 cancer.
- Luckily, thyroid cancer is typically slow-growing, but that doesn't mean it can't be serious. If you have a lump in your neck, a constant cough, or trouble breathing or swallowing, be sure to get in right away to see a doctor.
The former White House press secretary and loving mom of three’s campaign shared the news on Friday after doctors successfully removed her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes.
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In a statement shared on Sanders’ Instagram, the Arkansas gubernatorial candidate urged others fighting different battles, “Don’t lose heart.”
“As governor, I will never quit fighting for the people of our great state,” she concluded.
Dr. John R. Sims, who works as a surgeon in Little Rock’s CARTI Cancer Center, also stated on Friday that Sanders, who had stage 1 papillary thyroid carcinoma, is currently recovering and should be back on her feet by tomorrow.
"While she will need adjuvant treatment with radioactive iodine, as well as continued long-term follow-up, I think it's fair to say she's now cancer free, and I don't anticipate any of this slowing her down,” he said.
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the thyroid gland, which is at the base of the neck. The cancer will often present itself as a large bump (tumor) in the neck. It remains unclear what causes the disease. Some symptoms of thyroid cancer can be mistaken for a common cold.
Treatments for this type of cancer can include surgery, hormone therapy, radioactive iodine, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer include the following, outlined by the American Cancer Society (ACS):
Related: 7 Common Signs of Thyroid Cancer & How to Spot Them
- A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
- Swelling in the neck
- Pain in the front of the neck, sometimes going up to the ears
- Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- A constant cough that is not due to a cold
Luckily, thyroid cancer is typically slow-growing, but that doesn't mean it can't be serious. If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to flag them with your doctor.
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A Variety Of Treatments
Treatments can vary, depending on the type of cancer present. According to the Mayo Clinic, some varieties might not even require any treatment at all, at first, due to how slowly they grow.
However, surgery is often recommended as part of a course of action. These surgeries can range in severity, from removing a portion of the thyroid to removing the lymph nodes in the neck.
While recovery from surgery can vary from person to person, most patients make a recovery in 10 days to two weeks.
Aside from surgery, there are a range of other possible treatments that a doctor might recommend. Those include hormone therapy that can suppress the growth of cancerous cells, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or using targeted drugs.
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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