title: Breast cancer in Scotland: changes in treatment and work-load. Scottish Breast Cancer Focus Group and the Scottish Cancer Therapy Network.
abstract: Throughout Scotland, the patterns of care of patients with breast cancer were examined for the years 1987 and 1993. Substantial changes in oncological work-load were shown in the intervening period. The number of patients referred to an oncologist (clinical or medical) increased by 52% (from 1076 to 1634), the number of patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall increased by 72% (from 724 to 1248) and the number of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy increased by 215% (from 123 to 388). The number of consultant oncologists increased by only 16% (from 32 to 37). If patients are to be treated to the standards expected, then increases in work-load must be matched by appropriate increases in staff.
authors: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Dewar
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Twelves
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Thomson
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*