Resources and support for thyroid cancer
There are resources available to help you cope with thyroid cancer and its treatment. These include organisations, support groups, books, and videos.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Thyroid cancer support organisations
A support network for people with thyroid disease. The British Thyroid Foundation's staff, medical professionals, volunteers and people with thyroid disorders, work together to provide support and information based on medical evidence and personal experience.
Telephone helpline: 01423 810 093 (Monday to Thursday 10am - 4pm)
Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust is the first national charity in the UK dedicated solely to the support of patients with thyroid cancer. You can talk to others with thyroid cancer via their helpline, email and telephone. They also arrange for buddies to help through the treatment process.
Telephone: 07399564463
Email: amy@butterfly.org.uk
Parathyroid UK offers support for people with hypoparathyroidism. This can be caused by thyroid surgery and can make it difficult for your body to maintain a normal level of calcium in the blood. They can provide information and have an online forum.
Tel: 01342 324091
The Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders (AMEND) is a patient group which provides information and support about multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) and endocrine tumours. They can provide support to patients with medullary thyroid cancer who have the gene fault associated with MEN2.
General support organisations
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
Books about thyroid cancer
Douglas Van Nostrand and others
Keystone Press, 2019
ISBN 0974623931
This US book covers all aspects of thyroid cancer and its treatment, written by medical experts for the lay person. Some information is not applicable for a UK audience. There's a chapter containing patients' commentaries about living with thyroid cancer.
The Thyroid Cancer Book (2nd edition)
M S Rosenthal
Trafford publishing, 2006
ISBN 1553950593
This book covers the causes of thyroid cancer, different treatments, emotional and psychological issues and complementary therapies. The author whose had thyroid cancer is Canadian, so some information isn't relevant for the UK. The book is easy to read and comprehensive.
Susan Hibberd
Butterfly Cottage Publishing, 2018
ISBN 978-1999932107
A year long diary of Susan, a UK thyroid cancer patient. It's shows the issues she faced being diagnosed with cancer and having treatment. It includes her personal thoughts and feelings before diagnosis, through her treatment and once it ended. It gives detailed information about what it's like to have radioactive iodine treatment.
Bill McClain
Outskirts Press 2019
ISBN 1977205860
This book is 93 stories from 74 authors who all share the same incurable cancer, either as the patient or as the caregiver. The book helps the reader understand about living with cancer.
Booklets and factsheets
Many of these are also available on audio CD.
- Understanding thyroid cancer
- Understanding chemotherapy
- Understanding radiotherapy
- Coping with hair loss
- Healthy eating and cancer
- Coping with advanced cancer
- Looking after someone with cancer
- Who can help if you are dying
- Managing cancer pain
- Coping with fatigue
- Cancer and complementary therapies
- Your sex life and cancer
- How are you feeling? The emotional effects of cancer
- Talking to children and teenagers when an adult has cancer
- Talking about your cancer
- Talking with someone who has cancer
- Life after cancer treatment
Videos of people's stories
Provides free, reliable information about health issues including mental health, by sharing people's real-life experiences.
Find local cancer support and information services
NHS Choices has a service that tells you about local information and support.
