Survivorship Care Plans and Time Since Diagnosis: Factors That Contribute to Who Breast Cancer Survivors See for the Majority of Their Care

Purpose: The study purpose is to describe who breast cancer survivors see for their care by years since diagnosis and determine the association between time since diagnosis and the type of clinician providing the majority of care, taking into account receipt of follow-up care instructions.

Methods: The 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to identify a sample (N = 1024) of women with a self-reported history of breast cancer. Descriptive characteristics were calculated and stratified by years since diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, income, and receiving follow-up care instructions was performed to evaluate the association between years since diagnosis and clinician providing the majority of care.

Results: The type of clinician reported most frequently was a primary care provider. Women 0-1 year since diagnosis had the highest proportion reporting a cancer-related clinician for their care. After adjustment, women 0-1, 2-3, and 4-5 years since diagnosis were respectively 2.1, 2.6, and 1.7 times more likely to have a cancer-related clinician providing the majority of care compared to women 6+ years since diagnosis (respective 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) 1.0-4.3; 1.4-4.6; 0.9-3.1).

Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors receive the majority of their care from primary care providers, and years since diagnosis has a significant impact on who survivors see for their care. Breast cancer survivors have nationally recommended follow-up guidelines; however, the type of clinician that should provide care is not specified. Information regarding who provides the majority of care can be used for future planning and policy development.