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Management of thyroid cancer: results from a German and French patient survey

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Abstract

Objective

Various national and international guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer exist. The aim of this survey was to evaluate whether patients experience differences regarding the management of thyroid cancer in Germany and in France.

Methods

An online survey addressing diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, and information needs of thyroid cancer survivors was set up by the German and the French nationwide thyroid cancer self-help organizations. The survey consisted of up to 70 questions depending on the given answers. Descriptive statistics and univariate comparisons, if appropriate, for comparing thyroid cancer survivors in Germany and France were performed.

Results

In total, 1254 thyroid cancer survivors took part in the survey, of whom 1005 were included in the analysis, 618 from Germany and 387 from France. Remarkable differences between the two countries were observed regarding waiting times, diagnostics, surgical complications, radioiodine treatment, and aftercare of the patients. A high disease burden and lack of information regarding the condition and its treatment were reported in both countries.

Conclusion

This large survey showed that despite various guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer, thyroid cancer survivors’ experiences are noticeably different between two big European countries. Lack of information and unmet needs are still tasks to be addressed in order to optimize thyroid cancer care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 69, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Matthias Büttner & Susanne Singer

  2. University Cancer Centre, Mainz, Germany

    Matthias Büttner & Susanne Singer

  3. Bundesverband Schilddrüsenkrebs—Ohne Schilddrüse leben e.V, Berlin, Germany

    Harald Rimmele

  4. Vivre sans Thyroïde, Léguevin, France

    Beate Bartès

  5. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Markus Luster

Authors
  1. Matthias Büttner
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  2. Harald Rimmele
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  3. Beate Bartès
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  4. Susanne Singer
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  5. Markus Luster
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Contributions

All authors participated in critically revising the manuscript, and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission. All authors contributed to the interpretation of the data. Matthias Büttner contributed to the analysis of the data and drafted the manuscript. Harald Rimmele and Beate Bartès designed the questionnaire and contributed to the data acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Büttner.

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Conflict of interest

Matthias Büttner has nothing to disclose. Harald Rimmele has nothing to disclose. Beate Bartès has nothing to disclose. Susanne Singer received lecture fees from Pfizer, Lilly, BMS, and Boehringer Ingelheim, all outside of the submitted work. Markus Luster participated in an advisory board for Shire, outside of the submitted work.

Ethical approval

In accordance with the design of the survey, an Ethics Committee approval was not needed.

Informed consent

Due to the anonymity of the survey, no individual informed consent was needed.

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Büttner, M., Rimmele, H., Bartès, B. et al. Management of thyroid cancer: results from a German and French patient survey. Hormones 20, 323–332 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-020-00260-4

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