TY - JOUR T1 - Breast cancer survivorship: key issues and priorities of care JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 140 LP - 141 DO - 10.3399/bjgp17X689845 VL - 67 IS - 656 AU - Ridhima Iyer AU - Alistair Ring Y1 - 2017/03/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/67/656/140.abstract N2 - Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the UK, with an average lifetime risk of 1 in 8. Although the incidence of the disease has risen by 6% over the last 10 years, mortality rates have steadily fallen, and currently 80% of patients with early breast cancer have a projected survival of >10 years.1 As a result, the number of patients living beyond a breast cancer diagnosis has steadily grown; there were estimated to be 500 000 breast cancer ‘survivors’ in the UK in 2010 but this number is expected to reach 2 million by 2040.2 Once surgery and any chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatments are complete, the traditional model of breast cancer follow-up of multiple routine hospital visits has largely been superseded by an ‘open access’ structure, focusing on supporting self-management and patient empowerment. To make such a service successful, it is suggested that each patient should receive a Recovery Package,3 consisting of the following components: Cancer care review: review by a primary care practitioner within 6 months of a cancer diagnosis to ensure patients know what services are available to them, embedding the principles of self-management at an early stage.End of treatment summary: outlines treatments completed and priorities for future care, including any planned surveillance (for example, annual mammograms) and advice on symptoms and signs that could indicate recurrence;Health needs assessment: comprehensive questionnaire completed by the patient, including a concerns checklist, distress thermometer, and care … ER -