MKHC in Action: Coordinated Support to Treat Thyroid Cancer

MKHC patient Ms. A has been receiving care for thyroid issues for years, working with her care team, including Medical Director Dr. Angeline Lazarus, to monitor her condition and adjust medications as needed. When she began having discomfort in her throat and pain swallowing, she was sent in for an ultrasound, which revealed a growth on her thyroid. A biopsy confirmed that the growth was cancerous and that Ms. A would need surgery to remove it.

“Just hearing the word ‘cancer’ caused me panic,” Ms. A recalls. “I felt anxiety and a lot of fear.”

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis was difficult.  “Just hearing the word ‘cancer’ caused me panic,” Ms. A recalls. “I felt anxiety and a lot of fear.” Without insurance, the diagnosis brought more than just personal and medical challenges – it meant navigating the complex process of finding cancer treatment without insurance. Luckily, Ms. A didn’t have to do this alone – MKHC’s care coordination team stepped in to help, working to find a specialist who could provide the surgery at reduced cost. For major procedures like surgery, MKHC usually connects patients to the Project Access specialty care referral network, but no specialist was available for this type of procedure. Contacting local surgeries only led to high price quotes that Ms. A couldn’t afford out of pocket.  

Dr. Lazarus knew this patient needed urgent help, so she reached out through her network to an ENT surgeon at Georgetown Hospital to see if the doctor would take on the case. Once the surgeon agreed, MKHC’s patient navigator stepped in to guide Ms. A through the application process for financial assistance through a partner organization. Together, they gathered medical records, completed detailed forms, submitted documentation, and waited anxiously for a decision. Ms. A was approved, and her surgery was scheduled for January.

At the same time, MKHC welcomed a new volunteer endocrinologist, Dr. Nguyen, to the care team, allowing Ms. A’s thyroid function and overall health to be monitored even more closely in the weeks leading up to surgery—an example of how MKHC’s volunteer providers make such a big difference.

“I am grateful to the people who supported me during this journey," Ms. A states, "both in finding information and in providing financial assistance.”

The surgery went well, and Ms. A is now recovering. Her total out of pocket cost for the entire procedure was less than $150. She recently returned for a follow up and will continue to receive ongoing monitoring and care with MHKC, saying “I am grateful to the people who supported me during this journey— both in finding information and in providing financial assistance.”

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