KevinMD.comStop Calling it the ‘Good Cancer’

A reflective case study highlights this author’s take on papillary thyroid cancer, which has high survivability but cannot be considered “good.” Telling patients they have good cancer is dismissive and minimizes the patient experience associated with this diagnosis. When caring for patients with papillary thyroid cancer, this commonly used statement is contradictory. Providers of all specialties must consider the psychological and physiological effects that papillary thyroid cancer has on patients. It is critical to practice improving news delivery through effective and empathetic communication.