Medication 4: Cabozantinib (Cometriq) – Halting Cancer in its Tracks
Cabozantinib, which goes by the brand name Cometriq, is used to treat medullary thyroid cancer, a type of thyroid cancer that is relatively rare but can be aggressive.
One of the reasons Cabozantinib is a game-changer is because it inhibits the growth of new blood vessels that help tumors grow. In doing so, it effectively starves the tumor of the nutrients it needs to grow.
Furthermore, Cabozantinib targets certain proteins that drive the growth and spread of cancer cells. By focusing on these specific proteins, it’s able to more effectively halt the cancer in its tracks.
The side effects of Cabozantinib can be similar to other cancer medications, including fatigue, high blood pressure, and nausea. However, these side effects are often seen as a necessary trade-off for the drug’s effectiveness in treating medullary thyroid cancer.
Cabozantinib represents the strides that have been made in targeted cancer therapies. By focusing on the specific factors that contribute to cancer growth, it offers a more efficient approach to treatment. (4)
