[Exam 4] Chapter 52 - Thyroid Cancer Flashcards
Thyroid Cancer: Is this treatable?
Yes, this is fairly treatable
Thyroid Cancer: What are the different Types?
Papillary Adenocarcinoma
Follicular Adenocarcinoma
Medullary
Anaplastic
Thyroid Lymphoma
Thyroid Cancer: Which type is the most common?
Papillary Adenocarcinoma
Thyroid Cancer: What are some causes of this?
Radiation Exposure (Linked to frequent dental X-Rays where patients are younger)
Thyroid Cancer: Most common in who?
3/4 of cases occur with females
Thyroid Cancer: This is often found how?
The patient has a enlarged thyroid, may palpate the lump or nodule
Thyroid Cancer: This is diagnosed how?
With an ultrasound
Thyroid Cancer: If the lump is suspicious after ultrasound, what is then done?
Biopsy may be done and may do some lymph node mapping since there may be a lot of lymph node involvement.
Thyroid Cancer: What parts of the body may receive a biopsy?
The thyroid, the lymph nodes to determine if this is cancerous or not.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: What surgery may be done?
Thyroidectomy, so removal of the thyroid occurs. Tx of choice. Can also be a partial thyroidectomy.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: What is the other treatment of chocie for this?
Radioactive Iodine.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: Why is radioactive iodine sometimes still performed?
Because if the thyroid is removed, they may still have radioactive iodine to remove whatever is reamining.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: How does radioactive iodine performed?
The patient is given a capsule that they can swallow
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: If a patient is to do have the radioactive iodine procedure, what is done beforehand?
Requires patient to go on low iodine diet two weeks prior. This is so body is deprived of iodine and when capsule is swallowed, the body soaks it up and goes to any remaining thyroid tissue and kill it.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: What precautions will be taken with radioactive iodine procedure?
This is radioactive
Patients will need to stay away from children, maintain 6 foot distance.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: What determines how long patient will need to stay away from others when they are taking radioactive iodine?
Depending on the dosage that was taken
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: What are some components of safety measures that come along with radioactive iodine?
Flushing the toilet when they go to bathroom, flush twice
Wash sheets daily so they are not reasborbing radioactive iodine.
Thyroid Cancer - Medical Mx: So what is the biggest treatment that can be done for this?
Thyroidectomy and then radioactive iodine
Thyroid Cancer - Nursing Mx: Preop will include what?
Educate patients on what to expect. Getting all/some thyroid removed
Will need to be on lifelong thyroid replacement, like Levothyroxine
Thyroid Cancer - Nursing Mx: What will need to be done postoperatively?
Educating patient
Monitor airway, since surgery was on neck
Thyroid Cancer - Nursing Mx: What may need to be done if patient developed stridor?
They may need to be intubated right away, or may need to use a trach kit that is kept bedside in case airway closes off.
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: What potential complications may occur?
Hematoma underneath incision
Bleeding , JP drain inserted too help
Injury to laryngeal nerve (helps with breathing)
Hypocalcemia
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: Why is a hematoma under incision site dangerous?
It is pressing on trachea and is going to affect the patient’s airway.
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: If laryngeal nerve gets knicked, what problems may occur?
Complications or may lose voice after surgery. May come back over time or not. Can also cause problems with breathing.
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: What is the biggest complication that can occur?
Hypocalcemia
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: Why does hypocalcemia occur?
On back of thyroid, there is the parathyroid (4 little glands on pack) and embedded onto muscle on side of neck
These then take a hit and cannot absorb calcium
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: What will be done for patient with hypocalcemia?
May be on calcium supplements afterwards to help restore calcium balance. Make sure to monitor calcium levels to make sure they don’t go too low or high. Usually low.
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: What is an example of a calcium supplement to treat hypocalcemia?
TUMS, just like the kidney patients take for calcium. Its calcium carbonate
Thyroid Cancer -Nursing Mx: How do you promote home and community based care?
Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement. Education on this
Will need follow up with endocrinologist for rest of life to monitor thyroid function, any return of thyroid cancer and adjust levothyroxine levels appropriately.
