Thyroid Cancer Survivorship: Challenges and Opportunities

Objective: To provide a narrative review of challenges and opportunities in the care of thyroid cancer survivors. Methods: A literature search for full-text articles pertaining to quality of life and survivorship in thyroid cancer was performed and supplemented with personal experience of the authors. Results: Despite usually favorable prognosis for most thyroid cancer survivors, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) can be as poor or even worse than that in more aggressive cancers. Worry of cancer recurrence and long-term effects from cancer treatment adversely affects HRQOL in addition to other factors. Disparities and financial hardships among thyroid cancer survivors further affect HRQOL. In addition to monitoring for cancer recurrence and managing hypothyroidism, long-term effects from cancer treatment, including surgical complications, effects from radioactive iodine therapy, a small but increased risk of second primary malignancies, and aging-related health conditions (bone, cardiac, and fertility), need to be monitored for and addressed during survivorship care. Conclusion: Survivorship care models can vary depending on the specifics of the population served; however, a team-based survivor-centered approach provides the best care to thyroid cancer survivors.