Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes: A guide to symptoms, diagnosis, surgery, and disease management

Winner of a silver Ben Franklin award for excellence in publishing! Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer or thyroid nodules. In Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes, you will learn that most thyroid nodules are benign and many patients with thyroid nodules do not need surgery. Further, even if the nodule turns out to be malignant, the majority of thyroid cancers can be successfully managed with an excellent long-term prognosis.

The author of Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes is Dr. Per-Olof Hasselgren, an experienced endocrine surgeon and professor at Harvard Medical School. Over a 45-year career, he has operated on numerous patients with thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. Using plain English, he will explain basic concepts related to thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules, including:

• The anatomy and function of the thyroid gland
• The role of thyroid hormones
• Blood and imaging tests
• Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• Bethesda classifications and the risk for cancer
• Management of benign nodules
• Management of thyroid cancer
• Thyroidectomies, thyroid lobectomies, and other types of thyroid surgery
• Different types of doctors and medical specialists you may encounter

The author will also describe four cases involving patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules, including malignant nodules. He will help us follow the diagnostic workup and management options (including different types of surgeries) in a 37-year old stay-at-home mom, a 19-year old college student, a 62-year old truck driver, and a 58-year old high school teacher.

This book is not a do-it-yourself guide — a doctor is needed to diagnose and provide medical advice. However, Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes can help you understand what your doctor is recommending and why. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with thyroid nodules, Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes can be an invaluable and expert resource.

Thyroid Cancer & Thyroid Nodules In 30 Minutes by Per-Olof Hasselgren, MD, PhD., received a silver Ben Franklin award for excellence in publishing from the Independent Book Publishers Association.

In straightforward language, this manual outlines the function of the thyroid and offers four cases of patients with thyroid nodules, including malignant ones. Each case offers real-world examples of growth, discovery, and diagnosis, the resulting treatment procedures, and information about the necessity of follow-ups and typical recovery time. Diagnostic imaging and blood tests are explained in simple terms, and medical designations such as the Bethesda classifications, which measure cancer risk, and the TNM staging system for cancer, used to develop treatment plans, are presented plainly. In-depth graphs and images are also provided as helpful visual aids. Hasselgren, a teacher of endocrine surgery with 45 years spent in the operating room, offers readers a wealth of information, including detailed walk-throughs of treatment procedures, including the total thyroidectomy, lobectomy, isthmusectomy, and lymph node surgery along with possible complications and necessary precautions. A detailed glossary (with a helpful expansion online) and index make the resource easy to revisit for specifics. Though the text stresses this is not a "do-it-yourself guide" and that nothing can replace medical advice from a doctor, for those dealing with thyroid problems, this book is an asset which can turn the unknown and frightening into a manageable, understandable undertaking.

A thorough, informative resource that never overwhelms.

- Kirkus Indie

Dr. Per-Olof Hasselgren has practiced surgery for 45 years. During his career, he has performed numerous procedures related to endocrine surgery, including thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal gland procedures. Dr. Hasselgren recently stepped down from his clinical duties to devote more time to teaching and research. He is a member of the Section of Endocrine Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and serves as the George H.A. Clowes, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.