A lesson in semantics: is there such thing as a ‘good cancer’?

A recent survey has demonstrated that, despite an excellent prognosis, thyroid cancer patients experience a significant degree of cancer-related worry. The survey found that physicians often poorly communicate a relatively positive thyroid cancer prognosis, compared to other cancers, adding to patients’ concerns. Recently published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, the research has shown that thyroid cancer patients experience a significant degree of worry over their prognosis, despite much higher chances of survival compared to other cancers. Physicians were asked to rate their patients’ concern over their diagnosis and how they attempted to alleviate this concern. The team, based...