New service offers hope for thyroid cancer patients
Jul 6 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal
A NEW service pioneered in the North East is giving fresh hope to thyroid cancer patients.
The drug levothryoxine is prescribed to prevent the cancer returning after patients have had their thyroid removed.
It is also used to treat those with an under-active thyroid, but it is such a specialised field that many doctors are not expert in prescribing the required dose.
A recent survey conducted in the region showed that 20% of patients were inappropriately advised to reduce the dose of thyroxine by health professionals, putting them at risk.
The new service will see each patient being given their own treatment card to help control the doses of the life saving drug.
Set up in Newcastle by the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) and charity Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust, the new records provide vital information about patients’ treatment to medical professionals. Designed and produced by the NHS Innovations North team, the card is the brainchild of the Thyroid Cancer Team at the NCCC.
One of the team, consultant endocrinologist, Dr Petros Perros said: “This is such a specialised field that most doctors are not used to prescribing the higher doses of thyroxine needed to treat thyroid cancer.
Thyroxine is used to suppress the thyroid stimulating hormone that can encourage the growth of cancerous tissue. It’s really important that patients maintain the dose we prescribe to prevent recurrence.”
Former thyroid cancer patient Kate Farnell, of Rowlands Gil, set up the Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust in 2007 to offer support to people diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
She said: “The feedback we had from patients was that this problem was quite common and upsetting.
“It leads to more blood tests, time off work and erodes confidence in their treatment and those looking after them.
“We have seen a dramatic reduction in these kind of problems in the North East.”
The Thyroid cancer team are now working with the NHS Innovations North on promoting the new service within Trusts around the country.
