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Women with breast cancer report substantially more disease- and treatment-related side or late effects than registered by clinical oncologists: a cross-sectional study of a standard follow-up program in an oncological department

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Follow-up after breast cancer treatment is standard due to the risk of development of new primary cancers and recurrent disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a standard follow-up program in an oncological department by assessing: (1) Symptoms or signs of new primary cancer or recurrent disease, (2) Disease- and treatment-related physical and psychosocial side or late effects, and (3) relevant actions by oncology staff.

Materials and methods

In a cross-sectional study, 194 women who came for follow-up visit after treatment for primary surgery were included. The clinical oncologists registered symptoms and signs of recurrent disease or new primary cancer. Side or late effects were both assessed by patient and the clinical oncologists.

Results

Loco-regional or distant signs of recurrent disease were suspected in eight (5%) patients. Further examinations revealed no disease recurrence. Most patients (93%) reported some degree of side or late effects. Statistically significant more side or late effects were reported by the women (average: 6.9) than registered by the clinical oncologists (average: 2.4), p < 0.001. The three most often patient-reported side or late effects were hot flushes (35%), fatigue (32%), and sleep disturbance (31%).

Conclusion

None of the scheduled or additional visits resulted in detection of recurrent disease. Furthermore, the majority of patients reported side or late effects. Statistically significant more women reported side or late effects than registered by the clinical oncologists. This suggests the need for rethinking of the follow-up programs with more emphasis upon side or late effects of the treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44 - Building 5, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Mai-Britt Bjørklund Ellegaard, Cai Grau & Anders Bonde Jensen

  2. Psycho-Oncological Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Robert Zachariae

Authors
  1. Mai-Britt Bjørklund Ellegaard
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  2. Cai Grau
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  3. Robert Zachariae
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  4. Anders Bonde Jensen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mai-Britt Bjørklund Ellegaard.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (case no. 2014-41-3476) and the Danish Regional Science Ethics Committee (case no. 1-16-02-477-14).

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Ellegaard, MB.B., Grau, C., Zachariae, R. et al. Women with breast cancer report substantially more disease- and treatment-related side or late effects than registered by clinical oncologists: a cross-sectional study of a standard follow-up program in an oncological department. Breast Cancer Res Treat 164, 727–736 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4301-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4301-x

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