An Acceptable Risk...?

During the last visit to my diabetic clinic, I was asked to consider a new medication known as 'Victoza'. It is administered using an injection pen, once daily and it is known to work very well at lowering blood sugar levels and is also helpful in controlling weight.
I had for a long time been against any form of regular injection to help control my diabetes, viewing it as failure on my part. Having read the booklet I was given, it wasn't long before I was accepting the need for something more effective and seeing as I would need to inject just once a day, the idea began to gain favour with me.
As with all medication, I do like to do some research on the Internet to find out more about the tablets I take. I am particularly interested in finding out about how medicines are used in other countries and whether any adverse health risks resulting from taking them have been identified.

I have researched Victoza or Liraglutide as it is more commonly known and I have found a lot of information from various sources about its effectiveness in controlling blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. This is good, but I have also found an alarming amount relating to the risk associated with thyroid cancer. It turns out that during tests on animals, an increase in the instances of thyroid cancers was detected. As a result, the medication in the US carries a 'Black Box' warning of the possible risk to humans of developing thyroid cancer. It is pointed out that the risk to humans has not been proved as no testing has been carried out and the medication hasn't been in use long enough for the results to be known. The FDA have however demanded that a 15 year study is undertaken amongst users of Victoza to detect any recorded increase in thyroid cancers.

Now, I worry about the slightest things, so you can imagine how this has me feeling at the moment. My relief at having been recommended a new medication to control my increasing blood sugar levels has now been replaced with a fear that, if the diabetes doesn't get me then thyroid cancer will. I know it sounds ridiculous but how much faith should I place in something that hasn't been properly tested? Should I take the medication knowing the risk, as the benefits outweigh the probability? It's very likely that should I develop thyroid cancers later on in life, no link would be made to my use of Victoza, and those that prescribed it would be long gone anyway, absolving themselves of any responsibility or blame.
I'm rather worried that when I visit my GP, he will claim to have no knowledge of the reported risks, and will look at me blankly when I raise it with him. He has done this before and it frustrates me immensely that I seem to be the only one prepared to do any research and to find out all I can about the tablets I put in me. I fear that the information I have discovered will again be dismissed as just rumour and speculation, but I am determined this time to press the point that a risk has been identified and that takers of Victoza are in effect live guinea pigs.
If I do consent to take the medication then I will insist that I am regularly tested for any abnormalities. I believe this is mandatory practise in other countries where Victoza has been approved, so it should be here in the UK.
Am I worrying needlessly? Most probably, but whilst there is sufficient concern, enough to warrant a FDA warning in the US then I can't help but be concerned.

Another Bit of Me Not Working...

I had an appointment with my GP this morning. He had contacted me requesting I attend following a recent blood test. In truth it has been a while since I last saw him. He's actually a very good doctor, but I'm acutely aware like many that I don't do everything I should regarding my health and I am often criticised for it.
This morning he told me that my blood test had shown that I have significantly reduced Thyroid function, and that this is probably due to my Diabetes. He asked me if I'd been feeling tired and lacking energy. I replied that I have, I'm tired almost every day and I have nowhere near the energy I once had, even a couple of years ago. He also told me the slowed metabolism will cause weight gain - he only has to look at me to see that is true - and he poked my stomach with a grin.
It has all meant another tablet. This time, it's Levothyroxin and I need to take one daily. This should gradually  return things to their normal level but if not, he told me I would need a course of hormone replacement therapy.
I collected my tablets and I need to see him in a few weeks time after another blood test to see if the tablets have had any effect.
I don't know how I feel at having something else wrong with me. It does explain how I've been feeling most days and how I can easily fall asleep in the afternoon and evening. I'm thankful the tablet is quite tiny as I doubt if there is much room left in my daily tablet dispenser. As it is, I already warrant a NHS carrier bag when I collect my prescription every few weeks.
My GP retires Christmas Eve later this year. I didn't actually think he was that old, but I made a point of looking at him today. He's Chinese and I always think they never really age in the same way we do. He does look young and I would certainly not put him in the 55-60 years bracket. I wish him well and it will be sad to see him go. He's a great GP and he's seen me at my best and at my worst, helping me and convincing me that I had a future after my breakdown.
I've looked up my newly diagnosed condition and it's called Hypothyroidism. If nothing else, I suppose it will be something to talk about at my next Support Group Meeting.