Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39292348›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2024

"No such thing as good cancer": a qualitative exploration of the experience of early-onset thyroid cancer in survivors.

Sara Cho, Perri Tutelman, Tessa Chomistek, Iqra Rahamatullah, Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge, Fiona Schulte, Miranda M Fidler-Benaoudia

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In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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  5. "We're the silent people in the situation": a qualitative examination of the lived experiences of young partners of men diagnosed with testicular cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sara ChoDepartment of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Perri TutelmanDepartment of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Tessa ChomistekDepartment of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Iqra RahamatullahDepartment of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Charlotte Ryder-BurbidgeDepartment of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Cancer Care Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Fiona SchulteDepartment of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. fsmschul@ucalgary.ca.
Miranda M Fidler-BenaoudiaDepartment of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Cancer Care Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada. Miranda.Fidler-Benaoudia@ahs.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe incidence of thyroid cancer has increased exponentially in recent decades. At the same time, there is a growing concern surrounding the overdiagnosis of indolent thyroid cancer, leading to invasive and potentially unnecessary interventions that can significantly impact young patients' lives. Yet, the experiences of survivors of thyroid cancer have been largely understudied. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of survivors of early-onset thyroid cancer.

methodsThe qualitative research design of hermeneutic phenomenology guided this study. Participants completed a demographic survey and semi-structured interview that was subsequently transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

resultsThirty-six survivors of thyroid cancer (83% female, median age at diagnosis: 37.1 years, median age at interview: 43.5 years) participated. Participants' experiences were characterized by two themes: (1) reconciling the meaning of the "c" word (cancer) as a dangerous and life-threatening diagnosis with lived experience of thyroid cancer and (2) thyroid cancer leaves patients with lifelong physical and emotional scars.

conclusionsSurvivors of early-onset thyroid cancer experience significant short and late effects on their physical and psychosocial well-being. Survivors shared some of the difficulties of having to reconcile what they were told was a "good cancer" and their previously held beliefs of cancer, including feeling lost in the healthcare system and like they could not access services or be impacted because they had been told they had "good cancer." Increased communication of risks and acknowledgement of the perceptions surrounding cancer is needed to help patients make better informed decisions and feel supported throughout their thyroid cancer journey. Gaps in care pathways, especially adjustments post-treatment, should be filled to help support these survivors.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsQualitative ResearchThyroid NeoplasmsAdultAge of OnsetFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentClinical researchGeneralPsychiatryQuality of lifeThyroid cancerYoung adults

Identifiers

PMID39292348

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.