Quality of life in thyroid cancer patients: a literature review

Bărbuş, Elena; Peștean, Claudiu; Larg, Maria Iulia; Piciu, Doina

doi:10.15386/cjmed-703

Cited by 28 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Each one has a fundamental role in the announcement and explanation of the disease and therapeutic steps; a good doctor / patient relationship can often reassure patients and act positively on the quality of life. [23] Several studies show [5,6,7,8,9,10,24,25] a large variation in the perception of the disease in subjects treated for differentiated thyroid cancer, generally unrelated to favorable clinical follow-up of the disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quality of life scores are generally reduced in patients treated for DTC. [5,6,7,8] Some studies have compared the quality of life in patients treated for thyroid cancer with healthy control groups, including the Hoftijzer study [26], which compared the quality of life in a group of subjects followed for DTC with two control groups. One was comprised of healthy subjects selected by the patients themselves, and the other group was comprised of healthy subjects enrolled in other quality studies of life, matched for age, sex and socio-economic level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A good explanation of the procedure by the surgeon helps to reassure patients. [5] Some studies [32,33] have analyzed the impact of thyroidectomy on the quality of life of patients with thyroid cancer, a better esthetic result and a minimum of pain allows to have a better quality of life. Post-thyroidectomy scars on the neck affect the QoL of thyroid cancer patients regardless of scar type.…”

Section: The Type Of Surgery (Total Thyroidectomy and Lymph Node Dissmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Post-thyroidectomy scars on the neck affect the QoL of thyroid cancer patients regardless of scar type. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to the psychological effects of scars on patients and take care to minimize postthyroidectomy scar [5] In Almeida's study [28], radical neck dissection was among the factors that negatively affected the quality of life.…”

Section: The Type Of Surgery (Total Thyroidectomy and Lymph Node Dissmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have focused on analyzing the quality of life in patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer [5][6][7][8][9][10] and the latest recommendations aim at a better adaptation of our practices towards a less aggressive handling of patients undergoing followup for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). [11,1] Through this article, we will analyze several publications that raise the issue of the deterioration of quality of life in patients followed for differentiated thyroid cancer, and look for the factors described in the literature that significantly influence this quality of life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quality of Life of Patients Followed for Thyroid Cancer: An Element Not to Overlook

Chadli¹,

Haraj²,

Aziz³

2018

JED

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The quality of life has attracted great interest in recent years, primarily in patients followed for cancer. Differentiated thyroid cancer, despite its good prognosis, is responsible for a significant deterioration in the quality of life found in several studies. Many factors affecting the quality of life were found in the studies, including radioiodine therapy and its dosage, the use of rh-TSH, total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection, the stage of cancer, hormone treatment with TSH suppression, age and sex. Particular attention should be paid to patients being followed for thyroid cancer, to restore their quality of life, especially in the presence of factor affecting the quality of life.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Type Of Surgery (Total Thyroidectomy and Lymph Node Dissmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Type Of Surgery (Total Thyroidectomy and Lymph Node Dissmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Quality of Life of Patients Followed for Thyroid Cancer: An Element Not to Overlook

Chadli¹,

Haraj²,

Aziz³

2018

JED

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Analysis of Unmet Information Needs Among Patients With Thyroid Cancer

Karcioglu

Dhillon

Davies

et al. 2023

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

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ImportanceCounseling prior to thyroid cancer (TC) treatment is an essential component of informed consent. An informed patient affects treatment-related expectations and patient engagement, factors that contribute significantly to patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes.ObjectiveTo describe experiences with pretreatment counseling among survivors of TC and to test factors associated with self-reported treatment meeting expectations.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA cross-sectional survey was administered between October 18, 2019, and February 8, 2020, to members of ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association Inc, and to individuals accessing the public-facing ThyCa website. Survey respondents were asked 55 questions, including 4 free-text questions and 2 multiple-choice questions about pretreatment counseling.Main Outcomes and MeasuresRespondents self-reported (1) their unmet information needs, (2) rates of treatment meeting expectations, and (3) rates of treatment understanding. A mixed-methods analysis was performed, including qualitative content analysis of free-text responses and multivariable logistic regression of factors associated with self-reported levels of treatment meeting expectations.ResultsOf the 1412 survey respondents, 1249 were women (88.4%). The median age at diagnosis was 48 years (range, 18-85 years), and the median age at the time of survey completion was 60 years (range, 18-87 years). A total of 1259 respondents (89.2%) provided free-text responses to the question, “What would you tell someone newly diagnosed with your same condition?” Of these individuals, 526 (37.2%) reported inadequate pretreatment plan understanding and 578 (40.9%) reported that their treatment experience did not meet their expectations. Treatment met expectations for only 95 respondents (18.1%) reporting an inadequate pretreatment plan understanding. Of the 526 survivors of TC reporting a lack of understanding, 473 (90.0%) provided additional textual comments, most commonly in the categories of postoperative treatment, surveillance, and treatment effects. On multivariable logistic regression, self-reported failure to have an understanding of TC treatment was independently associated with failure of treatment to meet expectations (odds ratio, 5.1 [95% CI, 3.7-6.9]). Patients reporting a full understanding of their treatment plan were 5-fold more likely to indicate that their initial treatment experience was on par with expectations, independent of reported postoperative complications, age, sex, and other potential confounders.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this survey study, a substantial proportion of survivors of TC reported inadequate pretreatment understanding. This gap in understanding was associated with high levels of self-reported failure of treatment to meet expectations, which in turn is associated in other studies with poorer patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes. These outcomes may be improved by addressing gaps in patient understanding so expectations more closely match TC diagnosis and treatment pathways.

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