Thyroid and endocrine cancer
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones to regulate metabolism and a number of other functions. The department of thyroid and endocrine surgery sees, offers advice about and treats thyroid cancer, benign thyroid diseases, parathyroid and adrenal disease.
The thyroid and endocrine cancer service is built around the thyroid and endocrine cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nurses.
We run a One Stop Thyroid Clinic weekly where goitres, thyroid lumps and suspected thyroid cancer referrals are seen. An appointment at the One Stop Clinic allows
- assessment by a thyroid surgeon
- ultrasound scanning of the neck
- ultrasound-guided needle sampling of tissue
- checking of any tissue sampling for adequacy
- blood tests
This means less hospital visits for each patient and a faster diagnosis; avoiding separate visits for a scan or biopsy, or delays due to inadequate sampling.
Sometimes other imaging such as CT, MRI and PET-CT are undertaken subsequently.
Treatment can include surgery, hormone treatment, radioactive iodine treatment, external beam radiotherapy and medication.
Contact us
Northern Services
North Devon District Hospital
Main switchboard on 01271 322577
Eastern Services
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Main switchboard on 01392 411611
If you need any clinical advice earlier than your next planned appointment, please contact our specialist nurses on 01392 402215.
Referral of any thyroid lump or suspected cancer can be made to the One Stop Thyroid clinic via the Two Week Wait Thyroid Lump Only - Referral Assessment Service.
Where will I be seen?
Northern Services
North Devon District Hospital
North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4JB
Eastern services
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
ENT Outpatient Clinic
Otter Ward (Level 2, Area J)
Meet the team
Consultant surgeons
- Mr Joel Smith
- Mrs Helena Wilson
- Mr George Barrett
Consultant oncologists
- Dr Andrew Goodman
- Dr Chris Hamilton
Consultant endocrinologists
- Prof Bijay Vaidya
- Dr Antonia Brooke
- Dr Roderick Warren
- Dr Neil Walker
Thyroid specialists nurses
- Claire Barber (Lead)
- Zoe Copp
- Joy Higgs
- Kelly Kingwell
If you need any clinical advice earlier than your next planned appointment, please contact our specialist nurses on 01392 402215.
Services and treatments
The Macmillan website explains more about the different types of treatments offered.
You can also find out more about the different types of treatment by visiting the NHS website.
This includes:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Hormone treatment
- Targeted therapy
Supporting you
Having cancer can have an impact on every aspect of your life and on those around you. We understand that this is a difficult and often frightening time for you and your loved ones, which is why we have put together a wide range of information to help you live with and beyond cancer.
Some of these services are available locally, whilst others cover Devon and/or the South West Peninsula as a whole.
Patient information leaflets
We produce a wide range of leaflets which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital.
We also produce these in different formats including large print, please contact the department you are visiting for more information.
Useful videos
We have a wide range of videos which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital.