Follow-up Care for Breast Cancer Survivors.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ruddy KJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7849972 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Follow-up Care for Breast Cancer Survivors.
Ruddy Kathryn J KJ Herrin Jeph J Sangaralingham Lindsey L Freedman Rachel A RA Jemal Ahmedin A Haddad Tufia C TC Allen Summer V SV Hieken Tina T Boughey Judy C JC Ganz Patricia A PA Havyer Rachel D RD Shah Nilay D ND
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 20200101 1
Breast cancer survivorship guidelines recommend at least annual follow-up visits, yet the degree to which this occurs in clinical practice is uncertain. Claims data from a US commercial insurance database (OptumLabs) were used to identify women treated with curative intent surgery for newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2006 and 2014. In 25 035 women, median follow-up was 3 years. In the second year after surgery, 9.6% of the patients did not visit a primary care provider, an oncologist, or a ...[more]
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Project description:BACKGROUND: Since the launch of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, there has been a surge of interest surrounding the value and organisation of long-term follow-up care after cancer treatment. We report the views of 309 adult cancer survivors (aged 18-45 years) on provision of follow-up and preferences for care. METHODS: A total of 207 survivors completed questionnaires before and after routine consultant-led follow-up appointments and 102 were recruited by post. Measures of health status (including late effects, perceived vulnerability to late effects and quality of life), reasons for attending follow-up (clinical and supportive), issues to be discussed at follow-up and preferences for different models of care were assessed. RESULTS: In all, 59% of the survivors reported experiencing one or more cancer-related health problems. Survivors rated clinical reasons for attending follow-up more highly than supportive reasons (P<0.001), although nutritional advice and counselling were considered useful (60 and 47%, respectively). Those still receiving scheduled follow-up appointments did not discuss the range of issues intended with 'late effects' and 'fertility', which were particularly under-discussed. Hospital rather than GP follow-up was more highly rated. CONCLUSION: Survivors value the clinical reassurance currently provided by consultant-led care. However, supportive needs are not systematically addressed. Multi-disciplinary services are recommended to meet supportive needs in addition to clinical care.
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