On the day of your thyroid cancer surgery

Getting ready for your operation

You might have questions about your operation. The nurses can arrange for a member of the surgical team to come and talk to you. You sign a consent form for the operation if you didn't do it at the pre assessment clinic.

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 asks 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.

Medicine to relax

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.

Having an anaesthetic

You have an anaesthetic so that you can’t feel anything during the operation. You have this in the anaesthetic room or the operating theatre.

All the doctors and nurses wear theatre gowns, hats and masks. This reduces your chance of getting an infection.

Find out what happens after thyroid surgery