Active search for toxicity reduces delay on chemotherapy.

Abstract

6548 Background: Interdisciplinary teamwork involves health care professionals working as a team with the purpose of discussing individual cases and recommending care plans. In october 2015, the breast cancer interdisciplinary team (BCIT) was implemented in our outpatient oncology clinic. This team includes oncology physician, pharmaceutist, psychologist, nutritionist and oncology nurse. Since 2018, the oncology nurse does active search for toxicity (AST) in order to solve early symptoms. Methods: We evaluated outcomes of breast cancer patients who finished neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy and received BCIT care at our oncology clinic from october 2015 to November 2018. Results: Of 200 pts who had finish treatment, 139 pts (69.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy and 61 pts (30.5%) neoadjuvant schedule. Median age was 52,64 years (range:30.6-82.3y). At diagnosis, 50 pts (25%) were stage I, 101 pts (50.5%) were stage II, and 49 pts (24.5%) were stage III. When we compared before and after AST, there were no significant difference between mean age (54.13y vs 54.06y, p:0.97), colony stimulating factor use (p:0.10), cold-cap use (p:0.81), and timing of chemotherapy (p:0.13). There were 7 hospitalizations during chemotherapy, with no significant difference with AST (5pt vs 2pt, p: 0.82). However, patients in AST had significantly lower mean delay to complete chemotherapy (9.4 days vs 4.2 days p:0.003). After median follow up 17 months, there were 9 progression disease and 4 deaths. 1-year and 3-year overall survival rate was 99,2% and 95,1%, respectively. Conclusions: AST increased adherence to chemotherapy, with lower delay on chemotherapy treatment. There were no significant difference with colony stimulating factor use, cold-cap use, timing of chemotherapy, and hospitalization.