Follow-up care after breast cancer treatment is becoming more complex as it attempts to address the long-term needs of an increasing number of survivors. Workforce issues in oncology challenge the sustainability of current specialist-based care. This study explores survivors' experiences with follow-up care and attitudes to alternative models including a tailored survivorship care plan and involvement of primary care physicians and breast care nurses. Twenty women across Australia participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. All continued to attend follow-up visits with a specialist oncologist and reported a high level of satisfaction with care. Participants described a strong reliance on their specialist but were open to an increased role for their primary care physician in a shared model of care. Communication between multidisciplinary team members was perceived as an ongoing problem and there was enthusiasm for a patient-held written survivorship care plan to address this, and to meet information needs.

Women with breast cancer have a strong desire to be active participants in their cancer treatment and wish to be fully informed of potential treatment options, including HCDs. Nondisclosure of information, including HCDs, can result in patient dissatisfaction.

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