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Thyroid cancer patients report unmet needs after diagnosis. However, little is known about their specific needs. Therefore, we sought to characterize the needs of patients with thyroid cancer before undergoing surgery.

We conducted semistructured interviews with 32 patients with papillary thyroid cancer after their preoperative surgical consultation. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

The central need of patients with thyroid cancer was a strong patient-surgeon relationship characterized by informational and emotional support, and respect for the patient as a person. Patients preferred disease- and treatment-related information to be individualized and to take into account aspects of their daily life. They wanted adequate time for asking questions with thoughtful answers tailored to their case. Patients additionally desired emotional support from the surgeon …