People with advanced thyroid cancer in the UK now able to benefit from new thyroid cancer treatment Lenvima (lenvatinib)

[Clutter]

Lenvima® (lenvatinib) launched in the UK on June 9, a treatment option for people with radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI refractory DTC).1 Advanced thyroid cancer is a difficult to treat condition with a poor prognosis and lenvatinib represents a significant step forward for patients in the UK.

...cont/d in link.

medicalnewstoday.com/releas...

[ThyroidThora]

Hi Clutter,

Thank you for posting this information regarding the new treatment for thyroid cancer.

I've saved a copy on my PC for future reference as I had my thyroid cancer surgically removed 2 years ago but there's still a risk that it will return sometime in the future as a more aggressive type of thyroid cancer.

Many, many thanks.

TT xx.

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidThora]

You're welcome, TT. I've just had my Tg result 0.1 so I'm in my 3rd year of remission now.

[ThyroidThora in reply to Clutter]

Hi,

It's 2 years since my cancer was removed but I've never been told that I'm in remission. When do they tell you that you're in remission?

TT.

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidThora]

TT, that's the flipping problem, it doesn't occur to them to tell you that once the cancer is cut out you are in remission.

I had total thyroidectomy and RAI so thyroglobulin is usually undetectable which means there is no thyroid activity, ergo, no thyroid cancer cells in the body. I had slightly elevated Tg on one occasion and was a bit upset until one of the MDT explained that there is very little chance of recurrence as long as my Tg remains <6.0. Apart from that one blip it's usually been undetectable and this time 0.1.

If you have half your thyroid remaining you will have thyroglobulin. I think it is usual to test Tg after hemilobectomy and use it as a marker to compare future annual Tg results. If Tg rises it may indicate recurrence which should be investigated.

[ThyroidThora in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter,

Thanks for explaining this as I do worry about it quite a lot especially, as I'm having blood tests every 4 months. I had my last lot of bloods done last month and the endocrinologist has now put me on six monthly appointments at the cancer hospital. However, I still see him every 6 to 8 weeks to try and sort out my medication because I'm not right yet.

On the other hand, my endocrinologist has told me that I am still at risk that the cancer might return. In his words, "low risk" and after doing my own research I am at risk of developing the more aggressive anaplastic cancer in my 60's hence my surgeon saying my life expectancy is 10 years. I'm 52 next birthday and i was 49 and a half when the cancer was removed.

TT

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidThora]

TT, Doctors talk of life expectancy in 5 year and 10 year terms. It doesn't mean life expectancy is limited to 5 or 10 years.

5 year life expectancy for Stage I & II papillary and follicular cancer is almost 100%.

cancer.org/cancer/thyroidca...

Because you were low risk you didn't need completion thyroidectomy and follow up RAI. Biannual monitoring will pick up any recurrence and completion thyroidectomy and RAI will remove it long before it can transform to anaplastic cancer which is an extremely rare event.

I'm quite certain if there was a real risk of anaplastic cancer they'd have whipped your remaining lobe out to prevent it.

[ThyroidThora in reply to Clutter]

Hi,

When my right lobe was removed they didn't know what cancer it was or whether it was malignant. They tried to biopsy it during surgery but couldn't because the calcified nodule was so hard they had to do other tests which, could not be done during surgery. However, 2 weeks later I was told that it was follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer and following my own research it turns out that this cancer returns as anaplastic thyroid cancer.

As regards life expectancy, my surgeon told me prior to surgery that my chances were very good and that I had 20 years but, following surgery he revised this to 10 years. I'm quite prepared to accept 10 years now and, if nothing happens, every year afterwards will be a bonus. I think I was stage 3 but cannot quite remember, and I was told by my surgeon at the time that they could do a completion thyroidectomy and take out the left side. However, they were hoping that by keeping the left side I would not need thyroid hormone replacement. How wrong he was!!!

Thanks for your reassuring words.

TT x