Patients on Byetta who develop a lump in their neck may require extensive medical tests to check for thyroid cancer. If a doctor suspects cancer, the patient will require a blood test and a biopsy (tissue sample) for a conclusive diagnosis. Most people will also need a non-invasive imaging exam, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Researchers and the FDA have identified Byetta as a possible risk factor for developing thyroid cancer. Therefore, patients who take Byetta and have symptoms of thyroid cancer (such as a lump in the center of their neck) will need to talk to a doctor and undergo medical tests to check for thyroid cancer.
If a doctor suspects thyroid cancer, you may need to switch diabetes medications. Your doctor will also probably ask you about family history or other risk factors that may help diagnose the disease. However, the only way to conclusively diagnose Byetta thyroid cancer is with a biopsy (tissue sample).
Thyroid Cancer Tests & Diagnosis
- Physical exam: One symptom of thyroid cancer is a nodule or lump in the center of a patient’s neck. A doctor will perform a physical examination to feel the thyroid and check for nodules. The doctor may also check for swollen lymph nodes, which is another common symptom of thyroid cancer.
- Blood tests: Although blood tests cannot diagnose thyroid cancer, they are useful for checking levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which can be used to check for hyperthyroidism.
- Ultrasound: This non-invasive imaging test uses sound-waves emitted from a wand-like device called a transducer. The sound waves bounce off tissues in the neck and create a picture of the thyroid. This is useful for determining whether a nodule is fluid-filled (probably not cancer) or a solid mass (could be a tumor).
- Radioactive thyroid scan: This tests uses a radioactive iodine pill to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland. The patient swallows the pill and lets the iodine collect in the thyroid. A doctor then scans the thyroid with a special camera. Abnormalities may indicate a tumor.
- Tissue biopsy: A doctor takes a sample of cells from the thyroid gland using a needle (which may be guided by an ultrasound) or surgery. Then, a pathologist looks at these cells under a microscope and decides whether they are cancerous.
More Information
- Symptoms of thyroid cancer
- Causes of thyroid cancer
- Complications of thyroid cancer
- Treatment for thyroid cancer
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
