Implementing a Survivorship Care Plan for Patients With Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors account for 23% of the more than 10 million cancer survivors in the United States today. The treatments for breast cancer are complex and extend over a long period of time. The post-treatment period is characterized by gradual recovery from many adverse effects from treatment; however, many symptoms and problems persist as late effects (eg, infertility, menopausal symptoms, fatigue), and there may be less frequent long-term effects (eg, second cancers, lymphedema, osteoporosis). There is increasing recognition of the need to summarize the patient's course of treatment into a formal document, called the cancer treatment summary, that also includes recommendations for subsequent cancer surveillance, management of late effects, and strategies for health promotion. This article provides guidance on how oncologists can implement a cancer treatment summary and survivorship care plan for breast cancer survivors, with examples and linkage to useful resources. Providing the breast cancer treatment summary and survivorship care plan is being recognized as a key component of coordination of care that will foster the delivery of high-quality cancer care.

Are survivorship care plans responsive to African-American breast cancer survivors?: voices of survivors and advocates

“…Similarly, emerging research suggests that an SCP should include (1) a treatment summary describing the cancer diagnosis, histology, stage, and primary treatments given [12,13] and (2) a follow-up care plan, which includes information on recovery from treatment and the need for ongoing health maintenance or other recommended therapies to optimize continuity and coordination of care [14]. Finally, the literature also suggests that an optimal SCP should be personalized and patient-centered [10][11][12][13]. In summary, SCPs can serve to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between health care providers and patients, potentially increasing patients' knowledge of and adherence to posttreatment surveillance and follow-up care recommendations [8,15].…”

Increased risk of severe depression in male partners of women with breast cancer

“…1,2 In response, various supportive psychosocial intervention strategies have been designed, tailored to the problems that cancer patients face during the course of their disease. [3][4][5][6] The extent to which cancer affects not only patients but also their closest relatives was first addressed in a seminal article published more than 20 years ago, in which House et al illustrated how several diseases can influence people close to the patient. 7 The mechanism of this effect may involve several interacting pathways: the event may cause stress in the partner; it might deprive the partner of emotional, social, and economic support; and it can influence the daily life and behavior of the partner.…”

Anti-Müllerian hormone: determination of ovarian reserve in early breast cancer patients

“…cancer.gov) and recent data have shown that the incidence of breast cancer diagnosed in young women is increasing (Merlo et al 2012). The increasing number of earlier diagnosis and adjuvant therapy are expected to increase the number of breast cancer survivors (Jemal et al 2003, Ganz & Hahn 2008. In young women, chemotherapy may induce amenorrhea and it is still uncertain how to assess menopausal status in these patients despite the fact that the definition of the menopausal status is relevant for choosing appropriate antihormonal treatment (Amir et al 2009(Amir et al , 2010.…”