Response to follow-up of breast cancer.

Abstract

One hundred breast cancer patients were given questionnaires to be completed at home or at the outpatient department. The purpose was to have patients' opinions of the current follow-up system. The response rate was high (93%), which indicates the patients' wish to participate in the decision-making of their treatment. The Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology was the place of choice for follow-up (95%), which is strongly against the trend to transfer follow-up to health centers. Mostly the patients criticized the lack of psychological support. Medical training should focus more on the significance of doctor-patient relationship and mental factors. These points are particularly important for the oncologists because of the special character of cancer and related psychological stress. It is not, however, possible to create a better contact without increasing the time available for each patient, which means more vacancies of oncologists.