For years, we have been told that when cancer is diagnosed, it is best to start treatment as soon as possible. A new study, however, is bucking the trend at the moment.
A study published in the journal Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, says that in many cases of thyroid cancer, treatment may be delayed. In fact, no large differences in survival rate are noticed if the person received rapid treatment or not.
According to data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, 35,663 cases were investigated and 440 of these people needed immediate treatment. 161 of them died after an average survival time of 7.6 years. Among those not treated quickly, there were 6 deaths over a survival period of six years.
Thyroid cancer is rarely fatal. 97% of people who were not treated immediately enjoyed a 20-year survival rate, compared to 99% for those who received immediate treatment.