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Doctor Thyroid

Welcome to Doctor Thyroid with your host, Philip James. This is a meeting place for you to hear from top thyroid doctors and healthcare professionals. Information here is intended to help those wanting to 'thrive' regardless of setbacks related to thyroid cancer. Seeking good health information can be a challenge, hopefully this resource provides you with better treatment alternatives as related to endocrinology, surgery, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, functional medicine, pathology, and radiation treatment. Not seeing an episode that addresses your particular concern? Please send me an email with your interest, and I will request an interview with a leading expert to help address your questions. Philip James philipjames@docthyroid.com
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Now displaying: April, 2023
Apr 5, 2023

You have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and contrary to your doctor's advice, you choose to not proceed with surgery.  Is this a patient trend, and how often are patients making this decision?

In a qualitative analysis, Dr. Louise Davies reports on the experience of US patients who self-identify as having an over-diagnosed thyroid cancer.

How likely is death as result of thyroid cancer?  In a study by H. Harach, he sites that when reviewing random autopsies, thyroid cancer was prevalent in 34% of the cadavers.  

Dr. Davies states, if diagnosed with thyroid cancer, important questions to ask, include:

  1. How big is the tumor?
  2. How was the tumor discovered?
  3. Are there any symptoms?

Dr. Davies says those who choose to opt for no surgery are sometimes called stupid by those who know them, and end up feeling isolated and anxious, with little or no support.  

Louise Davies, MD, MS, FACS is an Associate Professor at Geisel School of Medicine
and Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice (TDI).

She is Chief, Otolaryngology at Veterans Administration, White River Jct., VT
Dr. Davies is an otolaryngologist - head & neck surgeon whose thyroid related research is aimed at defining and documenting the problem of rising thyroid cancer incidence and developing management approaches to the problem in ways that are safe and effective. Clinically, Dr. Davies cares for patients with both head and neck and thyroid cancer and general otolaryngology problems primarily at the VA hospital, with a limited practice at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Her career is defined by her goal of helping patients and physicians make good decisions for their cancer care by providing clear, helpful data in useful formats at the needed time and place.

NOTES:

JAMA Abstract: Dr. Davies

Thyroid Stories Project

Dr. Michael Tuttle, from Sloan Kettering

Yasuhiro Itoa and Akira Miyauchi 

Nonoperative management of low-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma

 

Apr 2, 2023
Jonas de Souza participates in both clinical and outcomes research studies on malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract, especially head and neck cancers. His research focuses on the use of novel therapeutic agents along with measurements of financial burden, patients’ preferences, and the trade-offs between the risks and benefits of cancer therapies. His research has sought to integrate outcomes research, patient preferences, health policy, and economics into clinical practice. His ultimate goal is to increase access to essential cancer therapies by providing policy makers and scientific communities with the required information on patient preferences and on barriers that lie between cancer patients and access to care.
 
De Souza has authored and presented papers and given lectures on head and neck malignancies, reimbursement methods in oncology, and evidence-based care. He is the principal investigator for a trial examining the role of SPECT-CT in the follow-up of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers.
 
De Souza earned his MD from the University of Rio de Janeiro State. He completed his residency specializing in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in 2008 and a fellowship focusing on hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago in 2011.
 
During this episode the following topics are discussed:
“Financial toxicity,” or the financial burdens that some patients suffer as a result of the cost of their treatments can cause damage to their physical and emotional well-being. 
Financial impact of thyroid cancer
Lost income or high out-of-pocket costs for treatment, medication or related care.
Like any other side effect, financial toxicity should be disclosed and discussed with the patients.
Patients with thyroid cancer had a 41% increased risk for unemployment at 2 years 
 
 
 
 
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