Radionuclide therapy for medullary thyroid cancer

Radionuclide therapy is a type of internal radiotherapy. It uses a radioactive substance, which is attached to a type of chemical. It is not often used to treat medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). It is more common to have targeted therapies. Your doctor will explain more about this treatment if they think it is suitable for you.

Radionuclide therapy is not the same as radioactive iodine which is used to treat papillary and follicular thyroid cancer.

You will have a scan that uses a tiny amount of radioactive substance. It tests whether the tumour absorbs a large amount of these chemicals. If it does, you have the treatment using a higher dose of the radioactive substance.

The treatment is given as a drip into a vein. As the chemical is absorbed, you also absorb the radioactivity. This destroys cancer cells.

It is a radioactive substance, so you will have it in a special ward. You will be looked after in a room on your own. This is so that other people are not exposed to the radioactivity. Your doctor will explain more about this treatment and any safety precautions you need to take.

Macmillan is here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can do the following:

• Call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00
• Chat to our specialists online.
• Visit our radiotherapy and side effects forum to talk to people who have been affected by radiotherapy, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.