Health Information

Thyroid Cancer

Other Treatment

Radiation treatment

Reference Radiation treatment uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is rarely used for thyroid cancer.

Low-iodine diet

Foods to avoid for a low-iodine diet include milk and other dairy products, commercial baked products (including most breads), seafood, and red food dye #3. A low-iodine diet is not the same as a low-salt diet. Most salt in the United States and Canada has iodine added, so low-iodine diets avoid iodized salt, but non-iodized salt is okay to eat.
For more information, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian, or visit the Thyroid Cancer Survivor's Association website at www.thyca.org/rai.htm.

Complementary therapy

People sometimes use Reference complementary therapies along with medical treatment to help relieve symptoms and side effects of cancer treatments. Some of the complementary therapies that may be helpful include:

Reference Acupuncture to relieve pain.
Reference Meditation or Reference yoga to relieve stress.
Reference Massage or Reference biofeedback to reduce pain and ease tension.
Reference Breathing exercises for relaxation.

These mind-body treatments may help you feel better. They can make it easier to cope with treatment. They also may reduce chronic low back pain, joint pain, headaches, and pain from treatments.

Before you try a complementary therapy, talk to your doctor about the possible value and potential side effects. Let your doctor know if you are already using any such therapies. They are not meant to take the place of standard medical treatment.

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference October 22, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology