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Updated: May 10, 2025
Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Understanding the disease experiences of thyroid cancer survivors with distant metastases: A qualitative descriptive
Kyung Ah Park1, Minjin Lee2, Sanghee Kim3
1Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea; College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
Thyroid cancer is often accompanied by a favorable prognosis; however, its survivors with distant metastasis experience significant physical and psychological challenges. To better understand their challenges, in this study, we investigated the experience of thyroid cancer survivors with distant metastasis.
Methods:
A qualitative descriptive design was applied to 21 survivors of thyroid cancer with distant metastasis in South Korea. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2021 and June 2022, and the results were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results:
Two main themes on the experiences of thyroid cancer survivors with distant metastasis were extracted with five subthemes. The two main themes are: (1) Adverse effects of treatment and (2) coping strategies. Survivors experienced physical side effects such as pain, gastrointestinal problems, and fatigue. Psychologically, they faced fear of recurrence, uncertainty, and regret. Coping strategies include sharing experiences with similar patients, accepting cancer, and consolation that it is better than other cancer types.
Conclusion:
Qualitative descriptive analysis conducted in this study confirms that survivors of thyroid cancer with distant metastasis indeed experience multiple physical and psychological challenges. Comprehensive care from healthcare providers is necessary to assist thyroid cancer survivors, who resiliently reframe their illness and seek social support by themselves. These efforts of comprehensive care include proactive management of treatment side effects, accurate communication about prognosis, and psychosocial support access, which will improve survivors' quality of life.
