A new drug to treat advanced thyroid cancer that has spread to other areas of the body has been approved. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Cometriq ( cabozantinib ) to treat medullary thyroid cancer.

Older lung cancer patients who have not responded to standard chemotherapy may be reluctant to continue treatment. Later-stage drug treatment, however, can be effective. Older patients often go under-treated because of concerns that they will not be able to tolerate certain toxic therapies.

Patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer ( MTC ) have few treatment options. A medication approved last year has expanded the options. All is not well, though. The drug has adverse effects that can interfere with its use.