title: Breast and colorectal cancer survivors' knowledge about their diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspects of a personal cancer history can have implications for future decisions regarding screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinicians must sometimes rely on patients' self-report of their medical history. This study assessed knowledge of details of cancer diagnosis and treatment among breast and colorectal cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written surveys were completed by 480 breast cancer survivors and 366 colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 at a large cancer center in the Minneapolis, MN, area (81% response rate). Responses were compared with cancer registry and medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent of breast cancer survivors and 65% of colorectal cancer survivors were unable to identify their stage of disease. Seven percent of breast cancer survivors and 21% of colorectal cancer survivors in whom regional nodes were examined did not know whether they had positive nodes. Accuracy of knowledge of estrogen and progesterone status among breast cancer survivors was 58% and 39%, respectively. Of breast cancer survivors treated with doxorubicin, 43% correctly identified it as a drug they had received. Their accuracy of identification of receipt of tamoxifen or specific aromatase inhibitors was >90%. Of colorectal cancer survivors treated with oxaliplatin, 52% correctly identified it as a drug they had received. Accuracy on many items decreased with patient age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identifies several gaps in adult cancer survivors' knowledge of details of their diagnosis and treatment that have implications for follow-up care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of written treatment summaries to cancer survivors could help them obtain appropriate patient-centered long-term follow-up care.
authors: Oncology Research Department, Park Nicollet Institute, 3931 Louisiana Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, MN 55426, USA. Nissem@parknicollet.com
authors: Mary Jo
authors: MJ
authors: Nissen
authors: Michaela L
authors: ML
authors: Tsai
authors: Anne H
authors: AH
authors: Blaes
authors: Karen K
authors: KK
authors: Swenson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone