title: Follow-up arrangements for breast cancer patients; is it appropriate to transfer surveillance to general practitioners?
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanaghan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kerin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology