Surviving and thriving after breast cancer treatment

Description

Despite a large body of evidence outlining the challenges breast cancer survivors face, many continue to have unmet needs. This may simply be because we do not systematically measure and respond to many of the problems faced by patients after their diagnosis. The potential of patient‐reported outcome measures to improve the care of cancer survivors is increasingly recognised because they allow accurate measurement of a range of outcomes through the patient’s lens and throughout a patient’s clinical journey. The collection of patient‐reported outcome measures has been encouraged in the 2020–25 National Health Reform Agreement to empower patient involvement in their care, improve care across the health system, and enable clinicians to focus on outcomes that matter most to patients.

If we recognise that breast cancer survivors face many challenges and would benefit from ongoing interventions that address their survivorship needs, we need effective methods to measure these challenges and needs, evidence‐based management approaches, and resources to find better care options.

This MJA Perspective shares more.

 

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain key components of the perspective.
2. Identify the factors which impact quality of life post breast cancer treatment.
3. Recognise the imperative of this perspective.

 

Authors: Christobel M Saunders, Lesley Stafford and Martha Hickey

Article Type: Perspective