Depressive Symptoms (Not Type D Personality) Predict Quality of Life in Survivors of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

It is estimated that in 2015, there were over 765,000 individuals living with thyroid cancer in the United States, and it is projected that there will be 53,990 new cases diagnosed in 2018 (NCI, 2018). Approximately three times as many women as men are diagnosed with thyroid cancer each year (NCI, 2018). The vast majority of diagnosed thyroid carcinomas consist of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), which encompasses both papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. These cancers both originate from the thyroid follicular cells (Fagin & Nikiforov, 2013). Estimates suggest that these carcinomas account for over 90% of thyroid cancer diagnoses (Aschebrook-Kilfoy, Ward, Sabra, & Devesa, 2011). The median age of diagnosis for patients with thyroid cancer is 51-years-old with a five-year survival rate of 98.1% (NCI, 2018). Thus, survivorship for these individuals may extend for many decades. Despite the favorable prognosis, long-term survivors of DTC report impairments in quality of life. These include impairments in physical, emotional, role, cognitive, and social functioning, in addition to fatigue and vitality

The "not so good" thyroid cancer: a scoping review on risk factors associated with anxiety, depression and quality of life

“…Several studies have reported a positive association between comorbidities and anxiety, depression, or lower QoL in TC survivors [ 17 , 20 , 24 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 49 , 56 , 70 ].…”

“…In addition, active surveillance rather than surgery had better outcomes [ 37 , 58 , 59 ]. Having comorbidities increased stress and anxiety, leading to a poorer QoL [ 17 , 20 , 24 , 30 , 34 , 49 , 55 , 70 ], whereas the patients’ perceptions related to diagnosis, treatment, and neck-scarring post-treatment were also associated with increased anxiety and depression and decreased QoL [ 35 , 36 , 43 , 44 , 71 , 72 , 77 , 78 ].…”