Cancer Follow-up Care Research Articles

Understanding Long-Term Cancer Survivors’ Preferences for Ongoing Medical Care

Due to risk for treatment-related late effects and concerns about cancer recurrence, long-term cancer survivors have unique medical needs. Survivors' preferences for care may influence adherence and care utilization. To describe survivors' preferences for care and factors associated with preferred and actual care. Cross-sectional analysis of participants in a longitudinal study using mailed questionnaires. Survivors of ten common cancers (n = 2,107, mean years from diagnosis 8.9). (1) Survivors' preferences for primary care physician (PCP) and oncologist responsibilities across four types of care: cancer follow-up, cancer screening, preventive health, and comorbid conditions. (2) Survivor-reported visits to PCPs and oncologists. The response rate was 42.1%. Most long-term survivors preferred PCPs and oncologists share care for cancer follow-up (63%) and subsequent screening (65%), while preferring PCP-led preventive health (77%) and comorbid condition (83%) care. Most survivors (88%) preferred oncologists involved in cancer follow-up care, but only 60% reported an oncologist visit in the previous 4years, and 96% reported a PCP visit in the previous 4years. In multivariable regressions, those with higher fear of cancer recurrence were less likely to prefer PCP-led cancer follow-up care (OR = 0.96, CI = 0.93-0.98), as did survivors with advanced cancer stage (OR = 0.56, CI = 0.39-0.79). Those with higher fear of recurrence (OR = 1.03, CI = 1.01-1.04) or who preferred oncologist-led cancer follow-up care (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.63-2.65) had greater odds of seeing an oncologist in the last 4years. Most cancer survivors preferred PCPs and oncologists share care for cancer follow-up and screening, yet many had not seen an oncologist recently. Survivors preferred PCP-led care for other preventive services and management of comorbid conditions. These findings highlight the important role PCPs could play in survivor care, suggesting the need for PCP-oriented education and health system policies that support high-quality PCP-led survivor care.

Feasibility of a Mobile Phone App and Telephone Coaching Survivorship Care Planning Program Among Spanish-Speaking Breast Cancer Survivors.

BackgroundSpanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors experience disparities in knowledge of breast cancer survivorship care, psychosocial health, lifestyle risk factors, and symptoms compared with their white counterparts. Survivorship care planning programs (SCPPs) could help these women receive optimal follow-up care and manage their condition.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a culturally and linguistically suitable SCPP called the Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn) Survivorship Care Planning Program for Spanish-speaking breast cancer patients in public hospital settings, approaching the end of active treatment.MethodsThe 2-month intervention was delivered via a written bilingual survivorship care plan and booklet, Spanish-language mobile phone app with integrated activity tracker, and telephone coaching. This single-arm feasibility study used mixed methods to evaluate the intervention. Acceptability and feasibility were examined via tracking of implementation processes, debriefing interviews, and postintervention satisfaction surveys. Preliminary efficacy was assessed via baseline and 2-month interviews using structured surveys and pre- and postintervention average daily steps count based on activity tracker data. Primary outcomes were self-reported fatigue, health distress, knowledge of cancer survivorship care, and self-efficacy for managing cancer follow-up health care and self-care. Secondary outcomes were emotional well-being, depressive and somatic symptoms, and average daily steps.ResultsAll women (n=23) were foreign-born with limited English proficiency; 13 (57%) had an elementary school education or less, 16 (70%) were of Mexican origin, and all had public health insurance. Coaching calls lasted on average 15 min each (SD 3.4). A total of 19 of 23 participants (83%) completed all 5 coaching calls. The majority (n=17; 81%) rated the overall quality of the app as “very good” or “excellent” (all rated it as at least “good”). Women checked their daily steps graph on the app between 4.2 to 5.9 times per week. Compared with baseline, postintervention fatigue (B=–.26; P=.02; Cohen d=0.4) and health distress levels (B=–.36; P=.01; Cohen d=0.3) were significantly lower and knowledge of recommended follow-up care and resources (B=.41; P=.03; Cohen d=0.5) and emotional well-being improved significantly (B=1.42; P=.02; Cohen d=0.3); self-efficacy for managing cancer follow-up care did not change. Average daily steps increased significantly from 6157 to 7469 (B=1311.8; P=.02; Cohen d=0.5).ConclusionsWe found preliminary evidence of program feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy, with significant 2-month improvements in fatigue, health distress, and emotional well-being and increased knowledge of recommended follow-up care and average daily steps. Tailored mobile phone and health coaching SCPPs could help to ensure equitable access to these services and improve symptoms and physical activity levels among Spanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors.

Stories of despair: a Kierkegaardian read of suffering and selfhood in survivorship.

A life-threatening illness such as cancer can bring about much existential suffering and a disconnect to self in spite of surviving cancer. In my recent research project, I interviewed 14 long-term cancer survivors on being post cancer. Contrary to common assumptions about long-term survivorship, my interviewees reported grave existential difficulties in finding a firm footing in their sense of self, fostering a variety of stories of despair. This article examines long-term cancer survivors' suffering from the vantage point of selfhood and provides a philosophical interpretation of the reintegration of the self by illuminating their stories of despair through the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard's seminal work The Sickness Unto Death. The participating survivors described how the cancer experience had quaked old perceptions of self, instigating them to question the depth of their self-understanding before the cancer and who they really were. In relating to themselves, they realized the dynamic process of becoming who they are by continuing to balance opposing poles within the self. This act of relating to self revealed the limit of the autonomous self in the creation of selfhood. The article intends to illustrate how a philosophical reading of selfhood and suffering in survivorship can inform medicine and inspire models for follow-up cancer care for long-term survivors.

Socioeconomic disparities among uninsured cancer patients: A free clinic study.

e18110 Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and approximately 38.4% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Cancer treatment and follow-up care is expensive and uninsured individuals may face barriers to receiving necessary treatments. Minorities may encounter additional barriers to accessing healthcare. There is limited research about socioeconomic disparities in uninsured cancer patients seen at free clinics in the United States. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect chronic disease parameters from electronic medical records and paper charts at nine free clinics in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. Demographics were compared between cancer patients and the non-cancer population via chi-square test or independent samples t-test. Results: Between January 2016 and December 2017, 9127 uninsured patients were seen at nine free clinics. 2137 patients were excluded from the study because there was no cancer data in their charts. Of the patients included in the study, 221 (3.2%) had a current or past diagnoses of cancer. Cancer patients were more likely to be female (n = 145, 65.9), p = 0.048, compared to non-cancer patients. Cancer patients were more likely to be Caucasian (n = 106, 89.1%), p < 0.001 compared to non-cancer patients (n = 2489, 69.3%). Cancer patients were less likely to be African American compared to non-cancer patients (n = 6, 5.0% vs. n = 754, 21%), p < 0.001. Cancer patients were significantly older than non-cancer patients (M = 54.1, SD = 12.0) vs. (M = 41.0, SD = 16.7), p < 0.001. Patients who had cancer were more likely to be unemployed compared to non-cancer patients (n = 78, 54.9% vs. n = 1685, 46.6%), p = 0.050. Conclusions: The study revealed that uninsured cancer patients are more likely to be unemployed, female, of older age, and Caucasian compared to non-cancer patients. It appears that uninsured African Americans are not utilizing free clinics for their healthcare and may be lost to follow-up. A variety of factors may have contributed to these disparities in this vulnerable population including lack of transportation, lack of awareness of free resources in the area, and more. This study increases awareness of disparities in uninsured, cancer patients.

Building Personalized Cancer Follow-up Care Pathways in the United States: Lessons Learned From Implementation in England, Northern Ireland, and Australia

There is a global need to transform cancer follow-up care to address the needs of cancer survivors while efficiently using the health care system to limit the effects of provider shortages, gaps in provider knowledge, and already overburdened clinics; improve the mental health of clinicians; and limit costs to health care systems and patients. England, Northern Ireland, and Australia are implementing an approach that triages patients to personalized follow-up care pathways depending on the types and levels of resources needed for patients' long-term care that has been shown to meet patients' needs, more efficiently use the health care system, and reduce costs. This article discusses lessons learned from these implementation efforts, identifying the necessary components of these care models and barriers and facilitators to implementation of this care. Specifically, the United States and other countries looking to transform follow-up care should consider how to develop six key principles of this care: algorithms to triage patients to pathways; methods to assess patient issues to guide care; remote monitoring systems; methods to support patients in self-management; ways to coordinate care and information exchange between oncology, primary care, specialists, and patients; and methods to engage all stakeholders and secure their ongoing buy-in. Next steps to advance this work in the United States are discussed.

Follow-up care after treatment for prostate cancer: evaluation of a supported self-management and remote surveillance programme

BackgroundAlternative models of cancer follow-up care are needed to ameliorate pressure on services and better meet survivors’ long-term needs. This paper reports an evaluation of a service improvement initiative for the follow-up care of prostate cancer patients based on remote monitoring and supported self-management.MethodsThis multi-centred, historically controlled study compared patient reported outcomes of men experiencing the new Programme with men experiencing a traditional clinic appointment model of follow-up care, who were recruited in the period immediately prior to the introduction of the Programme. Data were collected by self-completed questionnaires, with follow up measurement at four and eight months post-baseline. The primary outcome was men’s unmet survivorship needs, measured by the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Survey. Secondary outcomes included cancer specific quality of life, psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with care. The analysis was intention to treat. Regression analyses were conducted for outcomes at each time point separately, controlling for pre-defined clinical and demographic variables. All outcome analyses are presented in the paper. Costs were compared between the two groups.ResultsSix hundred and twenty-seven men (61%) were consented to take part in the study (293 in the Programme and 334 in the comparator group.) Regarding the primary measure of unmet survivorship needs, 25 of 26 comparisons favoured the Programme, of which 4 were statistically significant. For the secondary measures of activation for self-management, quality of life, psychological well-being and lifestyle, 20 of 32 comparisons favoured the Programme and 3 were statistically significant. There were 22 items on the satisfaction with care questionnaire and 13 were statistically significant. Per participant costs (British pounds, 2015) in the 8 month follow up period were slightly lower in the programme than in the comparator group (£289 versus £327). The Programme was acceptable to patients.ConclusionThe Programme is shown to be broadly comparable to traditional follow-up care in all respects, adding to evidence of the viability of such models.

Voice self-concept in 230 German patients after head-and-neck malignancy

The German questionnaire 'Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Stimmlichen Selbstkonzepts (FESS)', published by Nusseck et al 2015, evaluates voice self-concept in 3 scales. There are no normative data for clinical populations published. Gaining an insight into patients' voice self-concept might help in taking individualized decisions in head & neck cancer. 230 patients visiting our clinic in head & neck cancer follow-up care were administered the questionnaire. Scale value distributions in this population are described, influences of age and gender investigated. The questionnaire performs very well with regard to the scale value distributions. Age and gender effects are tiny, so our data can be used for clinical comparison purposes without respect to gender and age. The FESS questionnaire appears to be suitable for patients after head & neck malignancy and normative data for this population are published here.

Implementing personalized pathways for cancer follow-up care in the United States: Proceedings from an American Cancer Society-American Society of Clinical Oncology summit.

A new approach to cancer follow-up care is necessary to meet the needs of cancer survivors while dealing with increasing volume and provider shortages, knowledge gaps, and costs to both health care systems and patients. An approach that triages patients to personalized follow-up care pathways, depending on the type(s) and level(s) of resources needed for patients' long-term care, is in use in the United Kingdom and other countries and has been shown to meet patients' needs, more efficiently use the health care system, and reduce costs. Recognizing that testing and implementing a similar personalized approach to cancer follow-up care in the United States will require a multipronged strategy, the American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology convened a summit in January 2018 to identify the needed steps to move this work from concept to implementation. The summit identified 4 key strategies going forward: 1) developing a candidate model (or models) of care delivery; 2) building the case for implementation by conducting studies modeling the effects of personalized pathways of follow-up care on patient outcomes, workforce and health care resources, and utilization and costs; 3) creating consensus-based guidelines to guide the delivery of personalized care pathways; and 4) identifying and filling research gaps to develop and implement needed care changes. While these national strategies are pursued, oncology and primary care providers can lay the groundwork for implementation by assessing their patients' risk of recurrence and the chronic and late effects of cancer as well as other health care needs and resources available for care and by considering triaging patients accordingly, referring patients to appropriate specialized survivorship clinics as these are developed, helping to support patients who are capable of self-managing their health, setting expectations with patients from diagnosis onward for the need for follow-up in primary care and/or a survivorship clinic, and improving coordination of care between oncology and primary care.

Cancer survivorship care plans, financial toxicity, and financial planning alleviating financial distress among cancer survivors.

Concomitant with the increasing use of cancer care plans has been an increasing awareness of the potential for oncology care to result in long-term financial burdens and financial toxicity. Cancer survivors can benefit from information on support and resources to help them navigate the challenges after acute cancer treatment. While cancer survivorship plans could be a vehicle for patients to receive information on how to mitigate financial toxicity, cancer survivorship plans have typically not dealt with the financial impact of cancer treatment or follow-up care. Embedding information into cancer survivorship plans on how to reduce or avoid financial toxicity presents an opportunity to address a highly prevalent patient need. Patient-centered qualitative studies are needed to assess the type, format, and level of detail of the information provided.

Effectiveness of interventions to improve cancer treatment and follow-up care in socially disadvantaged groups.

To identify and characterize the interventions that aimed to improve cancer treatment and follow-up care in socially disadvantaged groups. To summarize the state of the art for clinicians and researchers. We conducted a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies with a control group (usual care or enhanced usual care) conducted in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries and published until 2016. Thirty-one interventions were identified, the majority of which were conducted in the United States in patients with breast cancer. Most interventions aimed to decrease social inequalities based on ethnicity/race and/or socioeconomic level, with fewer interventions targeting inequalities based on geographical area. The most frequently assessed outcomes were quality of life (n=20) and psychosocial factors (n=20), followed by treatment adherence or satisfaction (n=12,), knowledge (n=11), pain management (n=10), and lifestyle habits (n=3). The impact of interventions designed to improve cancer treatment and follow-up care in socially disadvantages groups is multifactorial. Multicomponent-intervention approaches and cultural adaptations are common, and their effectiveness should be evaluated in the populations of interest. More interventions are needed from outside the Unite States and in patients with cancers other than breast cancer, targeting gender or geographical inequalities and addressing key outcomes such as treatment adherence or symptom management.

Personalized Risk-Stratified Cancer Follow-Up Care: Its Potential for Healthier Survivors, Happier Clinicians, and Lower Costs.

The growth in the number of cancer survivors in the face of projected health-care workforce shortages will challenge the US health-care system in delivering follow-up care. New methods of delivering follow-up care are needed that address the ongoing needs of survivors without overwhelming already overflowing oncology clinics or shuttling all follow-up patients to primary care providers. One potential solution, proposed for over a decade, lies in adopting a personalized approach to care in which survivors are triaged or risk-stratified to distinct care pathways based on the complexity of their needs and the types of providers their care requires. Although other approaches may emerge, we advocate for development, testing, and implementation of a risk-stratified approach as a means to address this problem. This commentary reviews what is needed to shift to a risk-stratified approach in delivering survivorship care in the United States.

Insurance Coverage, and Having a Regular Provider, and Utilization of Cancer Follow-up and Noncancer Health Care Among Childhood Cancer Survivors.

The objective of this study was to assess the role of health insurance coverage on patterns of health care utilization and access to cancer-related follow-up and non-cancer care among childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Cross-sectional survey design was used. Childhood cancer survivors were from 2 large hospitals in Los Angeles County. In all, 235 were identified through the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program, diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 18 in 2000-2007 with any cancer type except Hodgkin lymphoma. At data collection in 2009-2010, participants were between 15 and 25 years old. Study exposure was health insurance coverage (private, public, and uninsured). Main outcomes and measures were respondents’ regular source of care for cancer follow-up, noncancer care, and both; and having a cancer follow-up visit, primary care visit, and hospital emergency department visit in the past 2 years. Compared with those with private insurance, the uninsured were less likely to have a regular source for cancer follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 4.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-9.4), less likely to have a source for noncancer care (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.6-6.9), and less likely to have a source of care for both (OR = 5.3, 95% CI = 2.1-13.5). Furthermore, uninsured CCS were less likely to have made visits to cancer specialists (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.1-9.50) and were less likely to have seen a primary care physician in the past 2 years (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.8-8.2). In addition, those with public (vs private) insurance were less likely to have a regular provider for primary care (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1-5.4) and less likely to have made a primary care visit in the past year (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 2.1-13.5). Uninsured CCS are at risk of not obtaining cancer follow-up care, and those with public (vs. private) insurance have less access to primary care. Policies that ensure continuity of coverage for survivors as they age into adulthood may result in fewer barriers to needed care, which may lead to fewer health problems for CCS in the future.

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in adult ADHD with anxiety disorder and depression comorbidity: A 17-week cross-over study

Children diagnosed with cancer are living longer and the survivor population is growing. However, most survivors develop late effects of radiation and chemotherapy shortly to years after completion of therapy, and the receipt of follow-up visits that are recommended by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) is suboptimal nationally.The aims of this study are to: 1) evaluate the impact of a patient-controlled electronic personal health record (ePHR) and system (SurvivorLink) on care visit attendance, risk-based surveillance, and other secondary outcomes (i.e., patient activation, quality of life (QOL)); 2) measure the use, acceptability, and perceived usefulness of, and satisfaction with SurvivorLink; and 3) assess facilitators and barriers to implementation.This hybrid effectiveness–implementation, clustered randomized control trial (RCT) evaluates the effect of SurvivorLink among pediatric cancer survivors and their parents on receipt of follow-up cancer care. We will recruit 20 pediatric survivor clinics with half receiving the intervention and half acting as a waitlist control. Parents of survivors and survivors will complete baseline, 3 and 12 month surveys that assess SurvivorLink use, patient self-efficacy, and intentions to return for follow-up. We will use mixed methods and multi-informant assessment to assess implementation outcomes (i.e., acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness).New approaches are needed to facilitate the receipt of long-term follow-up care among pediatric cancer survivors. This study will assess whether SurvivorLink is effective in increasing receipt of follow-up cancer care. Moreover, it will explore the influences of context and other moderators of clinical practice change in pediatric cancer survivorship.

"It's Just Presence," the Contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals in Cancer Care in Queensland.

Objectives: The aim of this research was to explore health professionals' perspectives on the provision of follow-up cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in Queensland.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Indigenous and non-Indigenous health professionals who had experience providing care for Indigenous cancer patients in the primary health care and hospital setting.Results: Participants were recruited from six Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (n = 17) and from a tertiary hospital (n = 9) across urban, regional, and remote geographical settings. Culturally safe care, psychological support, determining patient needs, practical assistance, and advocating for Indigenous health were identified as enablers to support the needs of Indigenous patients when accessing cancer care, and Indigenous health professionals were identified as the key enabler.Conclusion: Indigenous health professionals significantly contribute to the provision of culturally competent follow-up cancer care by increasing the accessibility of follow-up cancer care services and by supporting the needs of Indigenous cancer patients. All health professionals need to work together and be sufficiently skilled in the delivery of culturally competent care to improve the Indigenous cancer journey and outcomes for Indigenous people. Effective organizational policies and practices are crucial to enable all health professionals to provide culturally competent and responsive cancer care to Indigenous Australians.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RISK-STRATIFIED CANCER SURVIVORSHIP CARE

Cancer follow-up care that meets survivors’ unique needs cannot be provided solely by medical oncology teams due to the shortage of oncologists nor entirely by the primary care workforce, which has little training in the needs of cancer survivors. A risk-stratified approach that matches the intensity of care with patient need can optimize both patient outcomes and efficient use of the healthcare system, and is in use in other countries like the United Kingdom. The American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology brought together multiple stakeholders to assess the data on risk-stratified follow-up care and create a blueprint for next steps to implement this care in the United States. In addition, the American Cancer Society will be working with stakeholders to identify and prioritize gaps in the science needed to create and implement an evidence-based and efficient risk-stratified model for survivorship care in the United States.

"Lost to Follow-up" Among Adult Cancer Survivors.

Follow-up cancer care is important for patients who have received IV chemotherapy but some patients discontinue their care and are lost to follow-up (LFU) at the cancer center where they were treated. The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of cancer survivors are LFU at 5 years after treatment, the timing of LFU, and the characteristics of those who do not continue survivorship care. Adult patients with cancer who were treated with chemotherapy at a large community teaching hospital in 2006 and 2007 were identified and linked with State tumor registry data. Hospital medical records were reviewed to obtain information on demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and date of last follow-up visit. Characteristics of patients with ≥5 years of follow-up care were compared with those who were LFU. In total, 487 patients received chemotherapy and 304 died (62%) during the 5-year follow-up period. Among the 183 cancer patients who were known to be alive at 5 years, 92 (50%) were LFU and 50% (46/92) of this LFU group were LFU within 1 year of diagnosis. At 5 years, follow-up care was continuing for 55% of women, compared with 39% of men. The highest proportion of follow-up was observed among lung cancer patients (84%), followed by patients with breast cancers (63%) and gastrointestinal cancers (40%). Patients with hematological cancers had the lowest follow-up proportion at 5 years (29%) (P<0.05). Follow-up was not significantly associated with age (P=0.48), insurance status(P=0.29), and race(P=0.06). It is estimated that 65% of the cancer survivors in the United States are ≥5 years beyond their diagnosis but there is little data on oncology follow-up rates. In our retrospective study of 183 patients who were treated with chemotherapy only 49.7% continue to follow-up at their treatment center. LFU has important implications in planning long-term care strategies for cancer survivors and in survivorship research.

Experience Gained from the Development and Execution of a Multidisciplinary Multi-syndrome Hereditary Colon Cancer Family Conference.

Genetic healthcare professionals provide genetic cancer risk assessment and follow-up care for patients facing hereditary cancers. To meet the needs of those affected by hereditary colorectal cancer, City of Hope and the Hereditary Colon Cancer Foundation collaborated to develop a "Family Day" conference. We describe the development of our conference based upon the Hereditary Colon Cancer Foundation's "Family Day" program model, with refinements completed using the Participatory Action Research theoretical framework, which incorporated input from conference participants and researchers. Thirty-one participants attended the conference, representing patients with, or families, friends, and caregivers of those with, multiple colorectal cancer predisposition syndromes, including Lynch, familial adenomatous polyposis, and juvenile polyposis. Participants who completed the feedback surveys (n = 22) were highly satisfied with the presentation content, ranking the keynote lecture on family communication the highest of the conference events. Participants also provided feedback regarding how to improve future conferences. In conclusion, we share our experience and provide guidance for developing a successful hereditary colon cancer predisposition patient and family conference.

Adherence to Breast Cancer Follow-up Care Guidelines for Vulnerable Populations in four Canadian provinces: a CanIMPACT study

IntroductionBreast cancer survivors are at risk for late and ongoing problems including cancer recurrence and late effects of treatment. Vulnerable groups may not enjoy equitable access to quality follow-up care. This study examines utilization of guideline-based follow-up care among vulnerable subpopulations in four Canadian provinces.&#x0D; Objectives and ApproachFor vulnerable groups of breast cancer survivors diagnosed from 2007-2010 in British Columbia (BC), 2007-2011 in Manitoba (MB), 2007-2010 in Ontario (ON), and 2007-2012 in Nova Scotia (NS), alive at 30 months post-diagnosis and followed for five years from diagnosis, we undertook a retrospective population-based cohort study linking cancer registries, clinical and health administrative databases. We calculated adherence to recommended follow-up care for surveillance of recurrent and new cancer, late effects, and general preventive care, and examined variation among provinces. Vulnerable groups were defined as those diagnosed at older ages, with lower income status, and/or who resided in rural area.&#x0D; ResultsSurvivor numbers were 23,700 (ON), 9493 (BC), 2688 (MB), and 2735 (NS). In Year 2, between 9.3% (BC) and 28.1% (ON) of survivors diagnosed aged 74+ years received annual breast cancer-related PCP or oncologist follow-up visits, a lower proportion than their younger-diagnosed counterparts; rates of surveillance breast imaging (between 34.2% (BC) and 68.6% (ON) in Year 2) were also lower than those diagnosed at younger ages. Those with incomes in the lowest 40\% did not have different rates of primary care physician and oncologist visits compared to the top 60%, nor did their utilization of surveillance imaging or imaging for metastatic disease differ. Guideline-adherent surveillance breast imaging was conducted on a higher proportion of urban than rural patients in all provinces.&#x0D; Conclusion/ImplicationsWhile area-level incomes do not appear to appreciably affect follow-up care, older age and rural residence resulted in differential access to care. These results suggest that there are gaps in provision of follow-up care that potentially can be addressed through system and practice-level change.

Characteristics and Determinants of Patients Discontinuation of Breast Cancer Follow-Up Care at the Radiation Oncology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Objectives The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and predictors of discontinuation during follow-up care among breast cancer patients at the Radiation Oncology Department, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 504 patients with histological diagnosis of breast cancer referred for radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall. Data extraction form was used to obtain information on sociodemographic and disease related variables and time to discontinuation of care. Discontinuation rates and its predictors were estimated using Kaplan-Meier, Log rank test, and Cox's regression method of analyses. Results Five hundred and four breast cancer patients were studied. The mean age was 47.7years, 58.2% presented late with advanced stage disease, and 40% and 39% had metastasis and anaemia, respectively. Seventy-seven percent of patients discontinued follow-up care before completion of ten-year period. The 5-year and 10-year discontinuation rates were 69.8% and 92.6%, respectively. The median discontinuation time was 44 months. Discontinuers were more likely to be older than the age of 45years {HR=1.415; 95% CI= 1.044 - 1.917}, have metastasis {HR=1.793; 95% CI=1.396 - 2.302}, be anaemic {HR=1.404; 95% CI = 1.120 - 1.760)}, and have late-stage disease {HR=1.310; 95% CI = 1.407-1.639)}. Conclusion Breast cancer care discontinuation is associated with late presentation and advanced stage of disease. Therefore a system of community follow-up care and public awareness about breast cancer symptoms is recommended to reduce late presentation and discontinuity of care.

The role of psychosocial resources for long-term breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors: prevalence and associations with health-related quality of life.

Many long-term cancer survivors still have to adjust to possible adverse consequences of the illness or treatment. Resources can play an important role in this adjustment process, but research on this topic is limited, especially for very long-term survivors. This study explores, which resources are most frequently indicated by different subgroups of cancer survivors, and what role resources play for functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cancer survivors with and without recurrence. The sample of 6030 breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors (5-16years post-diagnosis) was recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study. Personal resources were assessed by a 27-item checklist; HRQL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). General linear models were used to analyze associations of resources with HRQL. Participants indicated on average 11.4 (SD 5.1) resources as helpful. Family, activities with others, and partnership were indicated most commonly overall, but frequencies varied according to age, sex, and tumor site. Physical activity, health, professional help, calmness, hope, optimism, and hobbies were most important in explaining HRQL variance. Cancer survivors with recurrence and many resources were found to report similar HRQL as survivors without recurrence and only few resources. The study underlines the importance and situational variability of personal and social resources for cancer survivors' HRQL, even years post-diagnosis. Not only the availability, but also the individual perception and significance of resources should be considered in follow-up cancer care.