1. Why isn’t calcitonin testing performed as a routine screen?
C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid cancer are both sufficiently rare that it is not useful to screen for calcitonin in the general population.
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2. If my thyroid is removed, will I need to replace my calcitonin?
No, the body can function without it. But you will need to take other thyroid hormones (usually T4) to regulate your metabolism.
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3. Is calcitonin ever used as a supplement?
Yes, but in a totally different context. Because it inhibits bone breakdown (resorption) when given in very large doses, calcitonin is sometimes given as a drug to people who have
osteoporosis. It helps maintain bone density and has a pain-relieving effect on bone.
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