Cancer is one of the dreaded diseases in the world today and there have been several new treatments to combat the disease. Recently, a FDA and DCGI approved drug – Lenvatinib was introduced during a press meet on 02.07.2019. Dr.P.Guhan, Director &Consultant Medical Oncologist, SRIOR addressed the press and spoke about Thyroid & Lung cancer scenario and how this new drug can be of use to patients.
It was conveyed that every year 14,000 patients are diagnosed with Thyroid cancer in India and it occurs in all age groups – from Children to seniors. Although there are various treatments for thyroid cancer; in most cases patients undergo surgery to remove most of the thyroid gland, and are treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Globally 7, 50,000 people die every year due to Liver Cancer. Hepatitis C virus is the cause for 85-90% liver cancer cases. If found in the initial stage, liver cancer could be eliminated using curative measures but if found in its later stages, the functionality of liver wouldn’t be as expected and the options to slow the growth of cancer and improving survival rate could be considered.
When the available treatments turn futile or helpless; Lenvatinib could certainly increase the quality of patients’ life. Lenvatinib is a unique tyrosine kinasine inhibitor which has the potential to act better on tumour cells.
The drug is imported from abroad and is little pricey. Dr.P.Guhan said that the companies that sell Lenvatinib drugs offer a huge discount to patients who belong to the’ below poverty line’.