Objective To analyze the effects of different treatment methods on survival time of patients with thyroid cancer in order to provide the basis and recommendations for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Methods A follow-up study was conducted to analyze the survival data of patients with differentiated thyroid cancers from January 1992 to December 2005. The study information included patients’ features, such as age, gender, employment status, medical insurance and marriage status. Results Univariate survival analysis showed that the survival time of the combined therapy group and the simple treatment group was statistically significant (P<0.05); survival time in different clinical stages, different occupations, different degree of education, and different health insurance was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was not statistically different between marital status, gender and survival time (P>0.05). Conclusion The average survival time of patients with surgery, 131I and TSH suppression therapy is greater than that with the surgery combined and TSH inhibited therapy, especially in the stage Ⅳ patients. Clinical stage, occupation, education, health care are the determinants for the survival time.