Any new treatments for Thyroid Cancer?

Question

My sister has Stage IV metastatic thyroid cancer (no thanks to her doctor who told her to ignore the lump in her throat for two years). She has had a total thyroidectomy and the radioiodine treatment is not effective as the tumors are no longer taking in iodine. To date only her lungs and colon are involved and her new doctors seem to be very good. I am wondering if anyone is aware of any new treatments or trials available?

Answer 1

I am so sorry it has spread so far - mine only spread to the lymph nodes in my chest and neck and I can't get rid of mine either.  (My doctor told me not to worry about the lump too - idiots.)

I am no longer uptaking radioactive iodine either and I am due for another surgery next month.  We are going to do regular beam radiation this time - it is the next choice when the iodine doesn't work.  It might be hard to do in the colon areas.  I would highly suggest you go to a cancer hospital that deals with thyroid cancer regularly - most oncologist refer you back to your endochrinologist, but most of them have not seen cases like mine and hers.  Sloan Kettering in New York City is known as the best - Mayo clinic is good too.  There are many cancer treatment centers in America and there are a few that specialize in these types of difficult cancers.

Good luck - I'm sorry she has to go through all this, I know how painful and scarry it is.

  http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/447.cfm

The only new trials I've heard about are for anaplastic thyroid cancer, not medulary - but you should check out    thyca.org - they have new and up to date info.