Anyone taking Lenvima (lenvatinib)?

Hi,
Although I do not take this medication, I know that sometimes I have been prescribed “brand named” medication or given a script for a procedure that my insurance does not cover. The doctor just had to send a justification to request coverage. I have been fortunate, that they have covered the items. Although I don’t know about very expensive drugs, it is definitely worth having your doctor work with the insurance company and send a justification for the specific medication. Good luck!

Welcome, @tonbra32, as you likely know lenvatinib (Lenvima) is a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is prescribed for a number of different cancers, including thyroid cancer. @achatterjee's mom is soon to start on the medication as well.

Here are a couple of discussions where members are talking about it, although not for thyroid cancer
- Keytruda + Lenvima For Recurrent Endometrial Serrous Carcinoma
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/keytruda-lenvima-for-recurrent-endometrial-serrous-carcinoma/
- Taken off of Keytruda/Lenvima for stage 4 RCC
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/taken-off-of-keytrudalenvima-after-9-treatments-for-stage-4-rcc/
Newer drugs on the market that do not yet have generic equivalents can be very pricey. As @koh mentioned, the pharmaceutical manufacturers will often have financial assistance programs. Here is the one for Lenvima:
https://www.lenvima.com/financial-help
Navigating financial assistance can sometimes be a tangled mess. Often oncology social workers or oncology nurses will help submit the request with you or on your behalf. See this article written by Mayo oncology social workers:
- How an Oncology Social Worker Can Help https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/how-an-oncology-social-worker-can-help/

When will you start on this medication?

Hi @bert60, how are you doing with treatment for follicular thyroid cancer on lenvatinib (Lenvima)?

That first week was Tuff tuff couldn’t hold anything on stomach had to runs and throat was sore . Appetite just disappeared. Things are appearing to be coming back in order this week . I’ll take it day at a time .

i am scheduled to take levima, and begin target radiation after my dental work is done. is anyone else taking this levima? lymph nodes taking over after radical neck dissection in 2023.

i have been watching my lymphocytes drop pretty low. 18.9. my thyroglobulin is 74.7, it was higher than that before the radiation pills(2), down to 48, now back up. aggressive papillary carcinoma, which is now labeled indifferentiated cells. any and all comments are welcome

I'm tagging @bert60 who also recently started lenvatinib (Lenvima) for thyroid cancer.

@lilyann, did you start lenvatinib yet? How are you doing?

hi colleen, lilyann here. no, not yet as i was doing antibiotics and ibu and tylenol and they were hard enough to get through with my throat issues. i like to see how a new drug acts and give it my full attention. some drugs just do not like me at all. i won't go into that as it was many years ago. i'm a many years ago person. lol. but, i guess when you are an octogenarian that happens. lol. anyway. thing is colleen, on all my pet scans it was showing cardiomegaly. not so much as an enlargement per say, but showing a degree. i had been reading up on some of that and was wondering being lenvima can raise your blood pressure and/or cause a heart attack. of course the dr. said how they would put you on blood pressure meds when your blood pressure increases. never had any high blood pressure. just have it in the back of my mind as my next appt. with the oncologist is on the 8th of October. so between waiting for my gums to heal from dental work before starting radiation and then you can't take lenvima while doing radiation, so my mind has been boggled since the medicine has arrived a few days ago. i hope @bert60 is doing well. thank you for inquiring and i will keep you posted. wishing all wellness and happiness.

@lilyann, are your blood levels improving?

This June my husband started taking a daily dose of 14mg Lenvatinib and has tolerated it pretty well. Keeping weight on has been an issue so he drinks very high calorie “meal replacements”, in addition to his meals, 2-3 times a day. His blood pressure has remained normal. At times he has temperature sensitivity to cold in his hands, and for about a week or so, went through some major joint pain in his hips. He gets tired, but is able to continue working as normal. More than anything, he gets an upset stomach and nausea 3-4 days a week. He has been able to manage it with Zofran.
He just had a 3-month follow up MRI and bloodwork showing shrinking masses and improved Tg level. Also, no new disease progression. All reassuring.
He will continue at this dose for now since tumors are shrinking and side effects are tolerable. Follow-up appointment in 3 months.