New tool measures thyroid cancer patients' anxiety

New tool measures thyroid cancer patients' anxiety Credit: SHVETS production from Pexels A new tool created by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators is the first to measure anxiety in patients with thyroid cancer. Described in the journal Thyroid, the Thyroid Cancer Modified Anxiety Scale (TC-MAX) could help doctors clarify patients' expectations, better match treatment to their needs and improve patient outcomes. "A patient's distress greatly influences which thyroid cancer treatment the patient prefers and what their doctor recommends," said Allen Ho, MD, professor of surgery, co-director of the Thyroid Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer and senior author of the study. "We found that our tool effectively assesses patient concerns to help doctors better determine the best course of treatment. This is especially important when treatment options have similar likely outcomes but patient preferences vary widely." The tool includes 18 questions that measure a patient's general cancer-related anxiety, anxiety about ultrasound testing used to monitor thyroid cancer progression, and fear about whether their cancer will progress or return. Investigators created TC-MAX in collaboration with Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, the world's largest thyroid cancer patient consortium. They relied on medical literature, physician expertise and the perspectives of more than 1,000 thyroid cancer patients. The study showed that the extent of each patient's anxiety mirrored the extent of surgery they chose, Ho said. When active surveillance, partial thyroid removal and total thyroid removal were all options, patients with the highest TC-MAX anxiety scores chose to have their entire thyroid removed, while those with lower average TC-MAX scores generally selected partial thyroid removal. Patients with the lowest scores chose active surveillance. Ho said the tool is now ready for use in clinical trials and patient care. More information Amanda J. Bastien et al, The Thyroid Cancer Modified Anxiety Scale (TC-MAX): Development and External Validation of a Thyroid Cancer Distress Instrument, Thyroid (2026). DOI: 10.1177/10507256261475819 Key medical concepts Active surveillance