Januvia Thyroid Cancer Treatment & Drugs

Thyroid cancer treatment options include surgery, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, and hormone replacement supplements. Treatments for thyroid cancer can be very expensive, time-consuming, and debilitating.

Treatment

Januvia (sitagliptin) is a medication that helps adults with type-2 diabetes control their blood-sugar levels. Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received several possible cases of Januvia thyroid cancer. Although the link is inconclusive, it is possible that many people who took Januvia were unaware of the potential risk.

Januvia thyroid cancer treatment options include:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Thyroid hormone replacement
• Emotional support
• And more

Surgery for Thyroid Cancer

Fortunately, most people who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer have slow-growing, non life-threatening type. Very few people are diagnosed with highly-aggressive anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most people with thyroid cancer have surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.

Surgical Januvia thyroid cancer treatments:

• Lobectomy: The thyroid gland has a “butterfly” shape, with two large lobes and a narrow connection. Sometimes, thyroid cancer is diagnosed in only one of the two lobes. Patients may undergo surgery to remove one of the lobes, called a lobectomy. This surgery preserves the other lobe, which can continue making thyroid hormones.
• Thyroidectomy: Surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland.
• Lymphadenectomy: Surgery to remove the lymph nodes. This may be necessary if thyroid cancer has spread (metastasized) and is detected in lymph nodes in the neck.

Thyroid Cancer Radiation Treatment and Chemotherapy

Januvia thyroid cancer treatments involving radiation and chemotherapy include:

• Radioactive Iodine Therapy: This is a treatment for papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, but not anaplastic thyroid cancer. The patient swallows one or more capsules or a liquid that contains radioactive iodine, which is absorbed into the thyroid gland. The cells die after they absorb enough radioactive iodine. It also kills healthy thyroid cells.
• External radiation therapy: This is used to treat thyroid cancer that can’t be completely removed surgically or with radioactive iodine treatment. A machine emits high-energy radiation in the neck or other areas where the cancer has spread, and it kills cancer cells. Although the treatment itself is painless, it can have serious complications (including difficulty breathing and swallowing).
• Chemotherapy: This treatment uses intravenous (IV) drugs that kill cancer cells. It is a treatment for medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Chemotherapy may also be used with external radiation therapy.

Cancer Drug Information

After surgery to remove thyroid cancer, patients will likely need to take supplements to replace the natural thyroid hormone. A patient may need thyroid hormone treatment for the rest of his or her life. This hormone helps regulate metabolism and prevents the thyroid gland from growing excessively. Calcium supplements and vitamin D pills may also be necessary.

The following medications might be used in Januvia thyroid cancer treatment to replace hormones that are normally produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body’s energy and metabolism:

• Levothroid
• Levoxyl
• Tirosint
• Unithroid
• Synthroid
• Levothyroxine
• And more