This is a very techinical video but fascinating. I would just go with the flow and not worry about all the scientific detail. Paul Davis is a remarkable doctor. Here is some information which may help: -
Thyroid hormone (T3) acts on thyroid hormone receptors in the cell nucleus ("genomic action"). Thyroid hormone also acts on "integrin αVβ3 receptors" on the cell membrane. Integrin is stuff that keeps cells together. Although T3 and T4 bind to the αVβ3 receptor only T4 is present in suficient quantity to matter. T4 binds to these receptors and dose dependently promotes cancer in multiple ways. T4 is cancer's friend.
Tetrac, a thyroxine (T4) analogue, competitively binds to αVβ3 receptors and blocks the proliferation of cancer. Tetrac has minor effects on thyroid hormone receptors in the cell nucleus. Dr Davis' team have developed 'nano-tetrac', molecules containing tetrac which do not enter the cell. Nano-tetrac has the anti-cancer properties of tetrac without adverse effects on thyroid hormone receptors.
The video is mainly about developing nano-tetrac for treating cancers in the general population but it does touch on the role of T4 in cancer and the possibility of using T3 therapy in patients with cancer and avoiding the use of levothyroxine in thyroid patients who have cancer.
For many years I have advocated levothyroxine monotherapy for patients who feel well on it but my view has changed over the past year or two. Given recent reasearch revealing the pro-cancer properties of higher T4 levels I believe levothyroxine monotherapy should not be routinely used.
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jimh111
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A few members of my family have passed away in recent yrs from cancer and I've been dealing with lumps and mammograms this past year so thanks for sharing. I'll give the video a try on a more clear head day and God willingly it will make some sense to me.
It's a very complex subject and the poor doctor seemed to have a bit of a cough making it a little difficult to follow. I would just try to follow the general thrust of the topic and not worry about the details.
Thank you for posting this. I found it a very convincing case for including some T3 in therapy rather than making do with high T4 for resolution of symptoms. Particularly dangerous taking high T4 if you have any form of cancer. Interesting how researchers found hypothyroidism resulted in less aggressive cancers. It looks like cancer researchers are going to highlight the case for T3 rather than it coming from the endocrinologists. I would think this research is very good ammunition to take along to your doctor to make a case for getting some T3, though I doubt GP’s and endocrinologists are up to speed on it.
Some people naturally have a lower fT4 with normal fT3 and they live longer. When it comes to medicating hypothyroidism it makes sense to target this profile rather than relying on more T4. This is what happens in other fields of medicine, therapies are targeted at achieving optimal healthy levels.
The studies report that physiologic levels of T3 have little effect but there's no information on higher levels. Logically we would expect T3 levels above normal to start having effect but I don't think anyone knows at what point it begins to matter.
The research looks at people with fT4 in the lower third of the reference interval. I have documented it here ibshypo.com/index.php/thyro... and on the webpages that follow on from the links at the bottom of each page.
So if people live longer with a normal FT3 and low FT4, does that mean that NDT, which has been criticised for it’s ratio of higher FT3, is actually preferable?
The studies have varying results but show a general trend that as fT4 rises within the 95% reference interval the risk of cancer increases. This risk varies according to cancer type and a slightly higher fT4 is associated with a lower risk for some cancers but overall as fT4 rises so does the risk of having cancer and the risk of dying from cancer. We are playing an odds game here.
These are relative risks and should be seen in context. My very amateur view is that we shouldn't accept these risks as they can be easily avoided. I see it as a bit like the contraceptive pill in the early days, it carried risks that have been substantially reduced by using a different formulation.
The research generally looks at normal levels of fT3 and fT4 and so only really applies to people with normal levels. There are other studies that show being hypo or hyper carries risks of serious illness and early death. So, as regards NDT I don't know of any studies that compare cancer or other risks from NDT or levothyroxine monotherapy. Taking just NDT would give high fT3 levels which I suspect might carry risks - I certainly don't know this for sure. I appreciate some people need high fT3 levels (I do) and these may carry risks, I'd rather avoid this but have no choice.
As regards NDT and those doctors who oppose its use the answer is to prescribe a little NDT and some levothyroxine so as to restore normal fT3 and fT4 levels. Strangely, in spite of their apparent concern about abnormal fT3, fT4 levels they never accept this logical approach.
A little NDT and some Levothyroxine to balance is a good solution. It will be very interesting to see this research make an impact with oncologists, and one day maybe, you never know, endocrinologists. On the point you make of being hyper or hypo carrying a risk of serious illness and early death, I am in the process of buying an annuity, and the actuaries don’t seem to give enhancement for being hypothyroid. Yet another aspect of our problems not being taken seriously.
I had cancer for a long time, but Gps looked at the very under range TSH and low thyroid, and eventually, as I was very house bound, I was put on levothyroxine, which made me beyond housebound and took away what little cognition and executive function I had. It was game over then, as i was too crippled and poor to keep going back and forth to dr, just for oxygen sats check and script for paracetamol.I was in too much pain to go out, shop, or cook.
Eventually gp agreed to an xray, but it came too late. On the day the xray was due, I became paralyzed from 6th vertebrae down.
Lung cancer invaded spine, broke my back, ribs etc.
I believe that the levothyroxine acted as an accelerator of the primary and metastatic cancer.
My concern is that Drs are not looking for cancer in levo takers, and when blood tests point to cancer, drs appear to ignore them. Yet they are obsessed with certain thyroid levels, and even more obsessed with alternative medicines, especially self sourced.
What kind of death cult is this?
I will be dead very soon, the most painful and expensive death possible,my back and ribs were broken for a long time and when I am moved from hospital to solitary confinement in some unknown nursing home i am told that the same agonising bed sore protocol that allows no sleep or freedom from pain and discomfort applys to all, including bone cancer patients.
As you uk residents have other options like the right to see your results and make dr act on them, you could for example check cancer markers, and insist on xrays and hopefully avoid ending up like me..
Levothyroxine may cause cancer, but it most certainly accelerates metastasis.
Looking for signs in testing is crucial, as symptoms are ignored by drs and in this hospital ward of crippled women, the drs try to label them as mentally ill, or ill from years ago smoking.
Victim blaming, poisoning with dangerous prescription drugs, usually inappropriate drugs, stealing and fraudulently altering medical notes, denying hospital records to patients. Cancer patients often end up imprisoned, you must be pro active
I'm so sorry to hear of such a dreadful situation. it certainly emphasises that we should push hard when we have unexplained symptoms and not just look at the thyroid. A close friend had similar upper back pain which was sudden, they delayed investigation, it was an embolism and during the operation he suffered ischemia and was completely paralysed. I'm no doctor but my view now is that severe upper back pain is unusual and should always be investigated. Lower back pain is common but the upper back doesn't seem to give problems except for sudden traumas.
It does seem that T4 (from the thyroid or tablets) accelerates cancer rather than causes it. The studies I've seen tend to show a small increase in the number of cancers in people with higher T4 levels but a much greater increase in progression and mortality. This is consistent with T4 making existing cancers worse.
I must make it clear I have no knowledge of cancer. i've simply looked at the numbers which show higher T4 levels (within normal limits) are associated with progression of many cancers which seems to be due to T4's effects on the integrin αVβ3 receptors. The studies I cite on my website look at overall risk and exclude subjects who have cancer or develop it within a couple of years. If one has a cancer it is vital to discuss it with an oncologist and ask them about thyroid hormone treatment. In some cases T4 makes it worse and in a few cases such as breast cancer T3 can also accelerate cancer progression.
I feel there is enough evidence now that levothyroxine monotherapy should be reserved for exceptional cases and combination therapy should be the standard treatment. I feel this is especially so for patients who have had thyroid cancer, it seems daft to give them levothyroxine TSH supression therapy.
Cancer is a dangerous subject, especially if someone has a financial interest. I feel nervous raising the issue but the evidence suggests it is a problem and so we should discuss it and once there is sufficient interest we can hand it over to the specialists, the oncologists.
Thank jimh111 for that feedback. I completely agree with your carefully researched assessment, and I am so sorry to learn of the fate of your friend.
In the uk you can call an ambulance, hire a private dr, get a 1st or 2nd opinion, and even obtain private blood tests, plus your primary drs are free. And it sounds like you have access to oncologists too.
My hope is that these freedoms are used while you still have them.
Thank you for spreading the word about levothyroxine, I fear the danger is worse than suspected.
I was shocked when I heard about healthcare in Jersey. We tend to think of it as the UK with a bit more wealth and warmer weather. Our NHS is under attack. We were able to have a decent health service after the war. The Germans have had health care since Bismarck!
The truth is very different jimh111. So different in fact, that I honestly thought I was hallucinating every caricature and spoof horror film i had ever seen while fighting delirium and infection!
I was in Southampton for a few days, so was able to compare your nhs with jersey. The nhs drs and nurses could not do enough for me, So kind. I had my own cubicle, morphine on tap, only a couple of bad nurses, not 1 psycho dr. They even supplied me with earplugs and eye mask! And nothing went missing.
Nurses came on tap to arrange pillows or adjust bendy mattress.
Here in jersey, nurses only come by when I am on phone, or to torment me. Under drs orders to gauge what makes me less uncomfortable and then ensure I am so uncomfortable and deprived of sleep and contact with outside world that I am almost bound to despair and or die before I have written my will.
The lawyers and drs here own us, we cant even do with our own property or bank accounts as we wish.
No official diagnosis, no access to medical records, but loud remarks heard in background by psycho drs about "mental illness" substance abuse, etc.
The bottom line is that very poor people pay very high price to very business oriented polipharmic gps time and again only to experience hidden hypochondria, mental illness, laziness, takes loads of supplements, paranoid, etc remarks.
They actually try to spin the dying and dead commodity I mean "patient" as a lunatic self inflicted paralytic who needs punishing for needing such high nursing care. The other patients have similar experience, though with family and support, and less needs the staff cant pin mental health labels on them as easily, but the vulnerable and alone are more likely to be lost to the cruel treatment and misdiagnosis regime.
Every patient has their gp prescribed drugs confiscated, and replaced by very harmful drugs, or nothing at all.
So they get more sick.
One lady was attacked and poisoned, which threw her electrolytes off.
In hospital they told her that her thyroid was too high, she is on propranolol, and 4 different bp medications. She has been hypothyroid since childhood.
They tried to pin a mental health label on her and on all patients here. We refuse to see mental health team, so in public ward it's not so easy for them to mess with the truth.
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