Thyroid cancer: it is curable - Treatment

Treatment of thyroid cancer

The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, but there are new technologies that facilitate the fight against it. It is very well to treatment, but, nevertheless, scientists do not stop to look for more efficient ways to deliver man from the disease.

A new tool for the treatment of a rare form of thyroid cancer

Recently it has been officially approved and registered a new drug - Vandetanib intended for the treatment of metastatic medullary thyroid cancer Medullary thyroid cancer: identification of disease   in adults. It is designed for cases where it is impossible to do the surgery, and the tumor grows and causes the characteristic symptoms.

Medullary thyroid cancer affects cells of the prostate specific type, and can develop spontaneously or be part of a genetic syndrome. This type of cancer is 3-5% of all thyroid cancers. In the US, they become ill each year about 2,000 people, making medullary thyroid cancer is one of the rare forms of cancer.

Among the common symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer - cough, difficulty swallowing, thyroid enlargement Increase in thyroid - that underlies the disease , Swelling in the neck, the appearance of the node or nodes in the thyroid gland, voice changes, hoarseness appearance. It is still not received official approval no cure for this form of cancer.

Vandetanib impairs cells of medullary thyroid carcinoma to grow and spread. It is taken daily, orally.

The safety and efficacy Vandetaniba was confirmed in a randomized international study, which was attended by 331 patients with end-stage medullary thyroid cancer. One of the subjects were given Vandetanib, another - placebo Placebo - an effective tool for self-hypnosis   (glucose tablets).

The study recorded how long the patient has not lived with advanced cancer (progression-free survival). Patients taking Vandetanib, the figure was higher. The average progression-free survival in the group of subjects treated with placebo was 16.4 months, and those taking Vandetanib - 22.6 months. To say that reside whether people taking Vandetanib is generally longer than those taking placebo (overall survival) is too early.

The most common side effects Vandetaniba - diarrhea, rash, nausea, hypertension, headache, fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain. The most serious side effects - a five deaths in patients treated with Vandetanib. Among the causes of death were: shortness of breath, heart failure and baterialnaya blood infection (sepsis).

The study noted the impact Vandetaniba on the electrical activity of the heart, which sometimes causes an irregular heartbeat and, in some cases resulting in death. For this reason, the reception is to appoint Vandeniba can only some doctors, and distribute it have the right to a pharmacy with a permit. In addition, patients before taking this drug should receive detailed information on the related risks.

Treatment of thyroid cancer with the help of robots

Thyroid cancer is treated surgically for nearly a century. Today in some centers for thyroid surgery using robotic technology to ensure, among other advantages, a stable three-dimensional image of the internal organs of the patient. The robot, named da Vinci, doctors use for about three years.

Four delicate "hands" of the robot introduced in strategically placed incisions in the armpits of the patient. The surgeon sits at the same time and control the movement of the robot, seeing in front of a three-dimensional image of the operated area. This procedure reduces the potential blood loss, and after her neck scar remains.

When the surgeon controls the da Vinci, the device mimics the movement of doctor's hands - as if he had carried out the operation. Another advantage of using a robot operation is that the da Vinci could be long and stable in one place, so that the surgeon is easier to "get" in remote places. Due to the complete control of the "hands" of the robot there is no possibility of accidental movement during all operations.

The recovery period after such operation less prolonged than normal after thyroidectomy. At the moment, the only drawback robotic removal of thyroid cancer is that it is available not everywhere and it is unlikely the situation will change soon - the robot is expensive, and to work with it doctors need additional training.

Results of clinical trials

Following the recent tests set a new gold standard for the treatment of patients with thyroid cancer. One of the main innovations was the reduction of the dose of radiation to which the patient is exposed to - now it can be only a third of the doses previously used.

The study involved 438 patients who were given different doses of radioactive iodine. It was found that a small dose of receiving one capsule has the same effect as the previously used higher doses - are destroyed all thyroid cells remaining after surgery. In addition, low doses of radioactive iodine have fewer side effects.

Currently, patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid gland), a few weeks after surgery give a capsule with radioactive iodine. It destroys any remaining thyroid cells, together with a potential cancer cells. Today, however, the methods of surgery are becoming more efficient, which means that after they have less thyroid cells. This in turn means that a low dose of radioactive iodine is sufficient to destroy the few remaining cells.

Previously patients because high doses of radioactive iodine had to spend several days in the hospital - the time until their bodies were somewhat radioactive. At that time, it was banned physical contact with friends and relatives; children and pregnant women in general could not attend these patients. Of course, large doses often cause side effects - such as a constant or dry mouth is a small risk of developing cancer in the future.

Upon receiving the low dose of radioactive iodine to the patient must stay in the hospital just a couple of hours. Side effects of this treatment are minimal, patients are able to quickly return to normal life.

The thyroid gland produces important hormones, and after the removal of patients have until the end of life to take hormones Hormonal treatments - not only contraceptives . A few weeks before treatment with radioactive iodine must stop taking them, which causes symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, lethargy, and significantly affects a person's ability to cope with work and household chores. If you are using low doses of radioactive iodine can be injected directly tirogena before taking iodine, which significantly weaken the unpleasant symptoms.

Thus, scientists have shown that treat thyroid cancer can be safer, faster, and less efficient manner.

Galina Romanenko