End of treatment interviews for patients following primary breast cancer treatment

Abstract

Since the mid-1980s, female breast cancer deaths have fallen by 40% in the UK, largely due to increasingly successful treatments. The growing number of cancer survivors has resulted in a move away from traditional follow-up methods, towards supported self-management programmes. This article describes a service evaluation project in which patients who attended an end-of-treatment interview were asked about their experience of a newly implemented supported self-management programme. Analysis of the data reveals that patients understand the new pathway, and are confident in the system and their own ability to reaccess clinicians when required. It also shows that breast care nurses can help reduce hospital appointments.