3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This study aims to assess differences between 4 types of single satisfaction measures. Secondly, if there is a difference in satisfaction between English speaking and Spanish speaking patients.
Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer are commonly treated with surgery to remove their thyroid gland followed by radioiodine ablation to destroy any remaining parts of the thyroid gland that may have been missed during surgery. It is thought that ablation with radioiodine destroys normal remaining thyroid tissue as well as cancerous cells either in the thyroid area or at other sites. Following successful treatment, patients are then monitored by their physicians at regular intervals with testing to detect any recurrence of thyroid cancer throughout the body. If thyroid cells are detected by these follow up tests, the physician will decide the best method to re-treat the patient. In 2001-2003 Genzyme conducted a clinical study to test if Thyrogen® can be used to accomplish radioiodine ablation treatment. This study aimed to determine that the success rates of radioiodine ablation were comparable when patients were prepared for ablation with Thyrogen® while being maintained on their normal thyroid hormone therapy, or, alternatively, by thyroid hormone withdrawal. Thyroid hormone withdrawal commonly causes uncomfortable side effects for patients, and these might be avoided by the use of Thyrogen. Eight months after the initial Thyrogen plus radioiodine treatment to achieve ablation, all patients in both groups were given Thyrogen® to test for any remaining thyroid tissue. The results of this testing showed that all patients (in both groups) had successfully achieved remnant ablation and had no detectable thyroid tissue remaining. In order to confirm these remnant ablation results we will conduct follow up testing in this study for all patients that were enrolled in the previous study and we also will determine if their thyroid cancer has recurred. Only patients who completed this previous Thyrogen ablation study are eligible for entry into this study.
Background: * Bladder cancer often recurs after treatment and patient survival varies greatly. * More knowledge is needed about factors that can help identify patients who are at greater risk of disease recurrence and progression to minimize the need for screening and to help guide treatment. * The New England Study of Environment and Health (NESEH), conducted by the departments of health in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the Dartmouth Medical School and the NIH, examined the relationship between health and environmental factors such as smoking, diet and water quality in New England. This study provides an opportunity to learn more about patients with bladder cancer. * Before launching a full-scale follow-up study on bladder cancer, it is necessary to determine the feasibility of obtaining needed follow-up information from patients enrolled in the NESEH. Objectives: -To determine the completeness and quality of information about treatment, recurrence, and progression that can be obtained for patients from their medical records. Eligibility: -Participants from the NESEH study who are residents of Maine and who were diagnosed with bladder cancer between 2001 and 2003. Design: * Determine the vital status of NESEH bladder cancer patients. * Select a sample of 40 living and 18 deceased patients. * Interview patients or their next of kin by telephone for about 30 to 45 minutes to update exposure information, obtain names and addresses of all hospitals and physicians they have seen since diagnosis, and obtain authorization to access medical records. * Obtain and abstract medical records.