Thyroid Cancer Survivors Experience Persistent Symptoms and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Deficits 12 Months Following Surgery
Authors' conclusion
A year after diagnosis, thyroid cancer survivors have persisting HRQoL deficits with some symptoms worsening over time.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with newly diagnosed thyroid cancer (excluding low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and ATC); 72% female, mean age 55 years, 55% American Thyroid Association low-risk differentiated thyroid cancerresponse rate 59%
- Participants
- 111 patients
- Outcome
- Trajectory of Health-related Quality-of-life (HRQoL) changes (SF-12, EORTC-QLQ-C30, ThyCaQoL, City of Hope-Thyroid Version, Assessment of Survivor Concerns)
- Follow-up
- Postoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months
Methodological detailsrepeated measures, mixed metropolitan and regional health district (public and private), Recruited between January 2021 and June 2023
- Repeated measures
- Mixed metropolitan and regional health district (public and private)
- Recruited between January 2021 and June 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
>12 months
Mean PCS (normative = 50); below normative at all time points
39.4
Mean MCS (normative = 50); below normative at all time points
46.7
MCS showed more consistent improvement over the first year
global p = 0.03
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Thyroid Cancer Quality of Life (ThyCaQoL) symptoms · over the course of the study
- Improvement in voice and scar symptoms
- P < 0.01 each
- Distress regarding neuromuscular symptoms worsened
- P < 0.01
- Distress regarding sensory symptoms worsened
- P = 0.01
- Distress regarding weight gain worsened
- P = 0.04
Fear of cancer recurrence
- Common and persisted over time
Status at study completion
- Euthyroid
- 82%
- Disease-free
- 92%
Original publication
Thyroid Cancer Survivors Experience Persistent Symptoms and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Deficits 12 Months Following Surgery. Thyroid. Published 10 July 2025. doi:10.
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