Breast cancer in Scotland: changes in treatment and work-load. Scottish Breast Cancer Focus Group and the Scottish Cancer Therapy Network.
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.
Dewar
J A
JA
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Twelves
C J
CJ
Thomson
C S
CS
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*