title: Experiences with a low-iodine diet: A qualitative study of patients with thyroid cancer receiving radioactive iodine therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe hormone interruption experiences related to not only physical problems, but also psychological, social, and spiritual problems, in patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were performed with five participants, four women and one man, aged between 28 and 58. The participants were subjected to high-dose radiation of 100-150 mCi and had experienced abrupt hormonal interruptions after undergoing total thyroidectomy. The analysis was conducted using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five essential components emerged as the interviews were dissected: dietary disruption due to discomfort, distress from overall bodily congestion, feelings of isolation as normalcy is lost from their daily routine, spending daily life with unfamiliar functional declines due to the LID, a lethargic state due to the lack of a place to which patients could retreat from the stress of hormone absence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The participants showed insecurity and depression due to an unbalanced diet, limited activities, and an abnormal lifestyle induced by the treatment. This treatment-related information can help healthcare providers readily understand and alleviate symptoms of thyroid cancer patients treated with RAI therapy.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kyem74@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Kyem Ju
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea University College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sungok@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Thyroid Center, Korea University Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Scientific Committee, 1st Congress of Asia Pacific Society of Thyroid Surgery, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kyjungmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kwang Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes
keywords: Experience; Hormonal interruption; I-131 therapy; Low iodine diet; Phenomenology; Thyroid cancer