What should you eat after thyroid cancer surgery?

You may have trouble swallowing and chewing, or your voice might be hoarse, making it difficult for you to talk. In such a case, the doctor usually performs thyroidectomy or thyroid cancer surgery to remove the thyroid gland in case your thyroid gland is enlarged or detected with cancer. After undergoing surgery, it is essential to follow a healthy diet to recover quickly and effectively. 

Which nutrients are essential after thyroid cancer surgery and during recovery?

Here are some essential diet tips you must follow after undergoing thyroid cancer treatment in Kolkata.

Stick to cool and soft foods

According to a thyroid cancer surgeon in Kolkata, eating soft and cool foods is recommended if you experience a tender or sore throat after the surgery. You can also include smoothies made from fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet to incorporate nutrient-rich foods. At the same time, you can also eat small ice chips to soothe your voice to get rid of feeling sore. Some better choices of soft and cool food items include fruit juice, vegetable juice, mashed potatoes, pudding, ice cream, milkshakes, eggs, beans, tender meats, and fish. 

Add food items to your diet rich in Vitamin C. 

Offering your body nutrient-rich in Vitamin C is one of the best ways to recover effectively. Vitamin C is crucial in healing your wounds and developing necessary scar tissue. At the same time, it is easier to consume food items rich in Vitamin C, like smashed fruits and vegetables in smoothies and soft meals. You can also include fruits rich in Vitamin C, like oranges, strawberries, and blueberries, along with vegetables like spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, and tomato. 

Prioritize the consumption of Zinc-rich food items

Like vitamin C, you also need mineral-based food items to accelerate your recovery procedure. Zinc is one of the essential mineral-based food items which can help to heal wounds and keep a strong immune system. You can find plenty of zinc in high-protein food items like chicken, beef, and pork. Apart from this, you can also find zinc in whole grains like nuts and legumes. 

These are some essential diet tips recommended by a thyroid cancer doctor that you must follow after thyroid cancer surgery. Apart from all the diet tips mentioned above, you should also drink plenty of water during and after meals. Keep as many fluid food items (like soup, gravy, and pulses) as possible so that you can swallow food items without any throat problems. 

Hear from our patients:


“Dr Suvadip is an amazing doctor. He led my mother’s treatment at Apollo with great care. I am grateful to have received him as our mother’s doctor. In terms of post operative care, doctor was available and provided care wherever required. He was always available to answer our questions and also give an update on her health.”