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. 2018 Jan;27(1):61-68.
doi: 10.1002/pon.4383. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

Treatment decision making in early-stage papillary thyroid cancer

Thomas A D'Agostino  1 , Elyse Shuk  1 , Erin K Maloney  2 , Rebecca Zeuren  1 , R Michael Tuttle  1 , Carma L Bylund  1   3
Affiliations

Treatment decision making in early-stage papillary thyroid cancer

Thomas A D'Agostino et al. Psychooncology. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an in-depth understanding of papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) patients' decision-making process when offered options of surgery and active surveillance.

Methods: Fifteen PMC patients and 6 caregivers participated in either a focus group or individual interview. Focus groups were segmented by patients' treatment choice. Primary themes were identified in transcripts using thematic text analysis.

Results: Four themes emerged from the surgery subsample: (1) Decision to undergo thyroidectomy quickly and with a sense of urgency; (2) Perception of PMC as a potentially life-threatening disease; (3) Fear of disease progression and unremitting uncertainty with active surveillance; and (4) Surgery as a means of control and potential cure. Three themes emerged from the active surveillance subsample: (1) View of PMC as a common, indolent, and low-risk disease; (2) Concerns about adjusting to life without a thyroid and becoming reliant on hormone replacement medication; and (3) Openness to reconsidering surgery over the long run. Two themes were identified that were shared by participants from both subsamples: (1) Deep level of trust and confidence in physician and cancer center; and (2) Use of physician and internet as primary sources of disease and treatment-related information.

Conclusions: Several factors influenced participants' treatment choice, with similarities and differences noted between surgery and active surveillance subsamples. Many of the emergent themes are consistent with research on decision making among localized prostate cancer patients. Findings suggest that participants from both PMC treatment subsamples are motivated to reduce illness and treatment-related uncertainty.

Keywords: oncology; papillary microcarcinoma; risk; thyroid cancer; treatment decision making; uncertainty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts