Follow-up arrangements for breast cancer patients; is it appropriate to transfer surveillance to general practitioners?
Kerrigan, D.; Waters, P.; Ryan, M.; Irfan, M.; Hanaghan, J.; Khan, W.; Kerin, M.J.; Barry, K.
Irish Medical Journal 107(9): 273-275
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-3102 PMID: 25417384 Document Number: 677624
The aim of this study was to examine the evidence for hospital follow up of breast cancer survivors and to identify patient preferences for hospital or community follow-up. We surveyed General Practitioner attitudes towards community follow-up and quantified the incidence of new or recurrent cancers within a patient cohort to identify their primary symptoms and thus cancer detection in the community. A 22 item questionnaire was distributed to 101 breast cancer survivors from a cohort of 921 treated patients. A 9 item questionnaire was distributed to 81 General Practitioners. Patients are reassured by hospital outpatient appointments, n=63 (74%) but have high levels of confidence in General Practitioner follow-up, n=57 (67%). General Practitioners are equally divided regarding their support for the transfer of follow-up (51%, 49%). Ten of the 14 new cancer episodes were associated with obvious clinical signs (p < 0.05). The proposed transfer of follow-up for patients to general practice by the national cancer control programme is appropriate.