Survivorship care after breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Due to early detection and improving treatment, the number of breast cancer survivors is increasing. It is estimated that there are now over 113,000 women living in Australia who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer in the past 20 years. How to best care for these women in the long term is an issue currently facing oncologists. With workforce shortages affecting cancer professionals and the changing focus of care to a more holistic approach, it is likely that general practitioners will have opportunities to become increasingly involved in the care of breast cancer survivors.

Objective: This article outlines issues to consider when caring for women in the years following their breast cancer treatment, and discusses the role of the GP in current and future models of care.

Discussion: General practitioners are ideally placed and skilled to address the long term issues that affect women who have survived breast cancer.