Surgery for thyroid cancer
The hospital staff will tell you what time you need to be there for your operation. You normally go into hospital on the day of your surgery. But sometimes you might go in the night before.
If the hospital has sent you a letter telling you the time and date of your admission, take that with you when you go.
Make sure you know where to go when you arrive. And if you are running late, call them to let them know.
Follow any instructions you were given at your pre operative assessment about how to prepare for your admission to hospital. This includes information on:
showering
not using certain hair and body products, including make up and nail varnish
what to take with you and what not to take
You may also need to follow information on having carbohydrate drinks before your operation.
Your nurse will go through a series of questions on a checklist to make sure you are ready for surgery. They ask you to:
tell them when you last had something to eat and drink
change into a hospital gown
put on a pair of anti embolism stockings - these help prevent blood clots
take off any jewellery - you may be able to keep a wedding ring on
remove contact lenses if you have them
wear a hospital identification band - this is normally on your wrist
If you have false teeth you can usually keep them in until you get to the anaesthetic room.
For some types of surgery, your nurse asks if they can remove the hair around the operation area. They usually do this with small battery powered clippers. They might remove the hair on the ward before you go for your operation. Or when you’re in the operating theatre.
Before you go for surgery you will see members of your health care team again. You have a chance to ask them any questions you have or explain if you have any concerns. You normally see:
They talk through the operation and go through the consent form again with you.
Your anaesthetist will talk to you about what will happen during the .
You have an anaesthetic so that you can’t feel anything during the operation. Your anaesthetist gives you this in the anaesthetic room or the operating theatre.
There are different types of anaesthetic. These include:
local anaesthetic to numb a small area
regional anaesthetic to numb a large area or part of your body – this includes epidural and spinal anaesthetic
general anaesthetic so you are asleep during the operation
medicine to make you relax – this is called sedation
You might have more than one type of anaesthetic for your operation.
You might have a drip (intravenous infusion) put into your arm before your surgery. You can have fluids through it. This makes sure you are not dehydrated before your operation.
Your nurse might give you a tablet or an injection to help you relax. This will be an hour or so before you go to the operating theatre. This makes your mouth feel dry. But you can rinse your mouth with water to keep it moist.
Your nurse and a porter take you to theatre on a trolley if you’ve had this medicine. You can walk down to the theatre if you haven't had any.
Find out what happens after thyroid cancer surgery
We have more information on what happens on the day of cancer surgery, including:
getting ready for your operation
going to the operating theatre
how you have the different types of anaesthetic
Find out more about what happens on the day of cancer surgery
Last reviewed: 01 Oct 2026
Next review due: 01 Oct 2029
Before your operation, you have tests to check your fitness and you meet members of your treatment team.
You will have a few tubes in place when you wake up, such as a drip and a wound drain . You might stay 1 or more nights in hospital.
After thyroid cancer surgery, you need time for your body to recover and for your wound to heal.
The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland that makes and releases hormones. It’s found at the front of your neck in the lowest part.
