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Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hensley, ML; Dowell, J; Herndon, JE; Winer, E; Stark, N; Weeks, JC; Paskett, E
Published in: Breast Cancer Res Treat
May 2005

BACKGROUND: Over 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will be survivors. We sought to determine the economic consequences of surviving breast cancer. METHODS: Disease-free survivors who had received adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II breast cancer on CALGB study 8541 participated in a study of long-term outcomes. Survey responses were used to determine the types and frequency of medical resources used in follow-up, annual direct medical costs, and survivor perceptions of the personal economic impact of breast cancer. RESULTS: 245 of 314 (78%) invited breast cancer survivors (median follow-up 12.2 years, range 9.3-16.4) completed the surveys. Eighty-seven percent reported having cancer specialist follow-up in the past year. The following percentages of survivors reported having had, for breast cancer follow-up, at least once in the past year: breast examination 92%, mammogram 88%, bone scan 18%, chest radiograph 59%, tumor marker studies 37%. When follow-up care included a medical oncologist, resources were more likely to be used at least according to published follow-up guidelines, or over-used. Median annual cost of follow-up per survivor was US 630 dollars (range US 0-10,817 dollars) with higher costs associated with medical oncology follow-up, lower income, and younger age. Few women reported a negative impact of breast cancer on employment, but 16% reported being denied life insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Among long-term breast cancer survivors, patient self-report data suggest that over-use of medical resources for follow-up appears common. When follow-up care included a medical oncologist, resources were more likely to be used appropriately, or over-used. Costs of follow-up are higher with medical oncology follow-up, lower income and among younger survivors. The annual cost of follow-up varies widely and may be driven by over-use of follow-up tests.

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Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

ISSN

0167-6806

Publication Date

May 2005

Volume

91

Issue

2

Start / End Page

153 / 161

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Survivors
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Services
  • Follow-Up Studies
 

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Hensley, M. L., Dowell, J., Herndon, J. E., Winer, E., Stark, N., Weeks, J. C., & Paskett, E. (2005). Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 91(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-004-6497-9
Hensley, Martee L., Jeannette Dowell, James E. Herndon, Eric Winer, Nancy Stark, Jane C. Weeks, and Electra Paskett. “Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804.Breast Cancer Res Treat 91, no. 2 (May 2005): 153–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-004-6497-9.
Hensley ML, Dowell J, Herndon JE, Winer E, Stark N, Weeks JC, et al. Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 May;91(2):153–61.
Hensley, Martee L., et al. “Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804.Breast Cancer Res Treat, vol. 91, no. 2, May 2005, pp. 153–61. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10549-004-6497-9.
Hensley ML, Dowell J, Herndon JE, Winer E, Stark N, Weeks JC, Paskett E. Economic outcomes of breast cancer survivorship: CALGB study 79804. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 May;91(2):153–161.
Journal cover image

Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

ISSN

0167-6806

Publication Date

May 2005

Volume

91

Issue

2

Start / End Page

153 / 161

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Survivors
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Services
  • Follow-Up Studies