Generally, thyroid cancer occurs when the thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ that regulates metabolism, growth, and development, is damaged. The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,280 new thyroid cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2023, the fifth most common cancer among women. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and fifth most common cancer in women.
A thyroid cancer can cause a lump or swelling in your neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, hoarseness, pain, or changes in your voice. A thyroid cancer diagnosis can also affect your hormone levels, resulting in weight changes, fatigue, mood swings, hair loss, and other problems. A thyroid cancer diagnosis can be made through a physical exam, blood tests, ultrasound, biopsy, or other imaging tests.
It is possible to treat thyroid cancer with surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy. Your thyroid cancer treatment options depend on its stage, type, and characteristics, along with your age, general health, and preferences. It is possible for thyroid cancer to have a good prognosis if it is caught and treated early, but it can also recur or spread to other parts of the body if not treated promptly.
Having thyroid cancer can affect not only your physical health, but also your emotional, social, and financial well-being. As a result of your diagnosis, treatment, or recovery, you may experience anxiety, depression, fear, isolation, or stress. You may also face challenges in managing your medical care, such as finding a qualified and experienced doctor, scheduling appointments, obtaining tests and treatments, paying for your expenses, or dealing with insurance claims.
Fortunately, Direct Primary Care (DPC) can help. DPC enables you to have a direct and personal relationship with your doctor, without the interference of third-party payers, such as insurance companies or government agencies. As part of DPC, you pay your doctor a monthly or annual membership fee in exchange for unlimited access to primary care services, including office visits, phone calls, emails, texts, and video chats. By negotiating directly with providers or using wholesale sources, DPC offers lower prices for laboratory tests, imaging studies, medications, and referrals to specialists.
DPC can help you manage your thyroid cancer in many ways, such as:
Offering you more time and attention during your visits, allowing you to discuss your concerns, questions, and goals, and to receive personalized and evidence-based recommendations for your care.
Giving you easy and convenient access to your doctor, whenever you need it, through various modes of communication, such as phone, email, text, or video. You can also get same-day or next-day appointments, without long waits or hassles.
Saving you money on your health care expenses, by eliminating copays, deductibles, or other fees, and by offering lower prices for tests, treatments, medications, or referrals. You can also avoid unnecessary or duplicate services, by having a doctor who advocates for you and who follows the best practices for your condition.
Enhancing your satisfaction and empowerment, by involving you in the decision-making process, and by providing you with education, support, and resources to help you cope with your thyroid cancer.
DPC can offer many benefits for thyroid cancer patients, such as:
Improving your health outcomes, by providing you with timely and appropriate care, and by reducing the risk of complications, infections, or errors.
Increasing your compliance and adherence, by making it easier and more affordable for you to access your care, and by motivating you to follow your treatment plan and lifestyle changes.
Reducing your stress and anxiety, by alleviating your financial burden, and by offering you emotional and psychological support.
Boosting your confidence and self-esteem, by helping you cope with the physical and emotional changes caused by your thyroid cancer, and by restoring your sense of control and normalcy.
Enhancing your quality of life, by addressing your physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs, and by enabling you to pursue your personal and professional goals.
DPC can provide you with personalized thyroid cancer management, by tailoring your care to your specific needs, preferences, and goals. For example, your DPC doctor can:
Perform a comprehensive and holistic assessment of your thyroid cancer, including its type, stage, and characteristics, as well as your age, overall health, and personal factors.
Discuss with you the pros and cons of the various treatment options, and help you choose the best one for your situation, based on the latest scientific evidence and guidelines.
Monitor your response to the treatment, and adjust it as needed, based on your feedback, symptoms, and test results.
Prescribe and dispense the medications you need, such as thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and ensure that you take them correctly and safely.
Order and perform the tests and imaging studies you need, such as blood tests, ultrasound, or biopsy, and explain their results and implications to you.
Refer you to the specialists you need, such as endocrinologists, surgeons, oncologists, or radiologists, and coordinate your care with them.
Provide you with preventive and supportive care, such as screening for other cancers, managing your comorbidities, or treating your side effects.
Educate you about your thyroid cancer, and provide you with information, resources, and tools to help you understand and manage your condition.
Support you emotionally and psychologically, and provide you with counseling, coaching, or therapy, as well as referrals to support groups or other services.
Encourage you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and provide you with guidance, advice, and coaching on nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, or smoking cessation.
Although thyroid cancer can affect your physical, mental, and social well-being, it doesn't have to be a lonely experience. You can improve your health, happiness, and quality of life by having a direct and personal relationship with your doctor, who can provide you with comprehensive, personalized, and affordable care, as well as help you manage your thyroid cancer better.
By putting you at the center of your care and respecting your dignity, autonomy, and individuality, DPC embodies this love. Visit the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, or the website of the Direct Primary Care Alliance, if you would like to learn more about Direct Primary Care, or find a DPC doctor near you.
As Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said, “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”
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