Thyroid cancer is increasingly diagnosed in Australia and, while typically associated with a favourable prognosis, the diagnostic and therapeutic journey can impose a substantial burden on patients. Despite this, limited real-world, patient-centred outcome data exist—particularly in the context of evolving therapies and clinical care models. The biopsychosocial impact of thyroid cancer was evaluated primarily examining how cancer subtype (DTC vs MTC), sex, age, and time since diagnosis influence patient experience and symptom burden.
Data were sourced from a web-based patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) questionnaire distributed to patients at Royal North Shore Hospital and from the Australian and New Zealand Thyroid Cancer Registry (ANZTCR). Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics on demographics, clinical characteristics, and quality of life metrics. Qualitative responses were analysed using thematic coding.
A total of 156 patients met inclusion criteria, with the majority having DTC (90.4%; n=141). The mean age was 52.0 years (range 18–90), and 64.7% were female (n=101). Sex was the most variable factor, with female respondents reporting higher rates of nearly all assessed symptoms. Time since diagnosis showed minimal variation and did not correlate linearly with symptom burden. A dominant theme in qualitative data was a strong desire for complete cure or disease stability, highlighting a gap in patient education around treatment expectations.
These findings point to the need for improved communication regarding treatment aims and prognosis, alongside broader supportive care strategies. Female patients may benefit from targeted interventions, and fatigue and mental health support remain common needs across the cohort.