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Treatment

The initial treatment of thyroid cancer usually consists of a two-step approach: thyroidectomy and radioiodine remnant ablation. In this section, you’ll learn about the different types of treatment for thyroid cancer and what to expect. The information that follows applies to most forms of well-differentiated thyroid cancer, but not necessarily to medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer.

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In the past, treatment (ablation) and diagnostic monitoring of thyroid cancer often involved withholding or removing thyroid hormone replacement thus causing patients to become hypothyroid. The availability of Thyrogen allows patients to receive thyroid hormone replacement therapy while undergoing treatment or diagnostic follow-up, avoiding the hypothyroid disease state. Thyrogen also helps detect persistent or recurrent cancer.

Downloads

Download these resources to learn more about thyroid cancer and Thyrogen, including how to manage your Thyrogen treatment.

Understanding Thyroid Cancer

Managing Thyroid Cancer with Thyrogen

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Indication
Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa for injection) is indicated for use as an additional tool to identify thyroid disease (by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin), with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine, in the follow-up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer (known as well-differentiated thyroid cancer).

Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa for injection) is also indicated for use as a preparation for treatment with a form of iodine to remove left over thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for a certain type of thyroid cancer (known as well-differentiated thyroid cancer) and who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

Important Safety Information

When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all—or parts of—your cancer could be missed.
In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.
Your doctor may take extra steps to care for you during Thyrogen treatment if you have heart disease and large amounts of remaining thyroid tissue after surgery.
If you are over 65 years old and did not have your entire thyroid removed during treatment of your cancer, you may be at risk for abnormal heartbeat while receiving Thyrogen. Because of this, you and your doctor will need to carefully consider the risks and benefits of Thyrogen before starting it.
In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were upset stomach, headache, tiredness, throwing up, dizziness, prickling and tingling sensation, weakness, difficulty sleeping, and diarrhea.

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