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Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate specific body functions. They are produced by various glands in the body and enter the blood stream, where they travel to other tissues and exert their influence. Hormonal therapy is used in cancer treatment to augment or interfere with the activity of certain hormones that can influence the growth of tumors.
Hormonal therapy is an important adjunct for thyroid cancer. It is delivered in the form of thyroid hormone pills. Hormonal therapy is used both to treat the deficiency of thyroid hormone that occurs after the thyroid gland is removed or destroyed and to prevent or delay remaining bits of thyroid tissue from growing by suppressing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted from the pituitary gland.
There are several types of thyroid hormones which could be used:
Giving thyroid hormone seems to decrease the chance that remaining bits of thyroid tissue will grow. No one is sure how long patients should continue to be treated with thyroid hormone, however.
Since the elderly may have an underlying heart, liver, or kidney disease, these hormone medications should be used with caution in this population.
You’ll need to be monitored regularly and carefully to make sure that you are receiving an appropriate dose of thyroid hormone. Too little hormone will cause hypothyroidism , which has the following symptoms:
Too much hormone can cause hyperthyroidism , which has the following symptoms:
References:
Baudin E, Schlumberger M. New therapeutic approaches for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Lancet Oncol. 2007;8:148-56
Conn’s Current Therapy. 54th ed. Philadelphia,PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002: 652-657.
Cooper DS, Doherty GM, Haugen BR, et al: The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Taskforce: management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2006;16:1-33.
Cornett WR, Sharma AK, Day TA, et al. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: an overview. Curr Oncol Rep. 2007;9:152-158.
Rachmiel M, Charron M, Gupta A, et al. Evidence-based review of treatment and follow up of pediatric patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2006;19:1377-1393.
Thyroid carcinoma. In: Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000: 1247-1250.
What is thyroid cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=43 . Accessed December 10, 2002.
What you need to know about cancer of the thyroid. National Cancer Institute website. Available at http://cancer.gov/cancer_information/ . Accessed December 10, 2002.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Mohei Abouzied, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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