New Studies Spotlight Crucial Elements in Breast Cancer Survivorship and Treatment Adherence

CHICAGO, IL – Recently, Breastcancer.org presented key research findings at the 2024 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting held in Chicago, IL and virtually. Each year, Breastcancer.org conducts research surveys on topics important to our breast cancer community to uncover unmet needs and provide unique insights that help to problem-solve and advance care.

Researchers have unveiled significant findings that underscore the importance of survivorship care plans and effective provider communication in managing breast cancer survivorship and treatment adherence. Two groundbreaking studies shed light on the psychological impact of survivorship care plans on fear of recurrence and the role of provider communication in patient adherence to treatment.

In the first study, researchers examined the impact of survivorship care plans on the fear of cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors. Conducted between July and August 2023, the study involved 997 participants recruited by Breastcancer.org from site users and its online community discussion forum. The participants, all U.S. residents diagnosed with breast cancer in the past decade, completed an anonymous survey assessing their survivorship care, receipt of survivorship care plans, and fear of recurrence.

Key findings from the study include:

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  Only 32.1% of participants reported receiving a written survivorship care plan, while nearly half (49.4%) did not receive one.

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  Breast cancer survivors overall had a median fear of recurrence score of 20 (on a scale of 0-36), with 43.2% experiencing clinically significant fear.

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  Notably, those patients who had received a survivorship care plan had almost half the risk of experiencing clinically significant fear of recurrence (OR 0.54, p=0.013).

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  Despite high satisfaction with overall survivorship care, the study highlights a critical gap in the provision of survivorship care plans.

Dr. Marisa C. Weiss, founder and chief medical officer for Breastcancer.org and lead author of the study, emphasized, "Our findings indicate that survivorship care plans play a vital role in lowering the fear of recurrence among breast cancer survivors. Unfortunately, most people don’t receive survivorship care plans. Ensuring that more patients receive and understand these plans could significantly improve their psychological well-being and improve confidence in their post-treatment prognosis." 

The second study explored the relationship between patient-reported provider communication skills and adherence to recommended breast cancer treatment. Conducted concurrently with the first study, it surveyed the same cohort of 997 participants to assess their understanding of provider explanations and treatment adherence.

Highlights of the study include:

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  A majority (93.4%) of participants reported that their doctors usually or always explained things in a way they could understand.

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  However, only 27.9% felt their doctors definitely explained the possible long-term side effects.

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  Poor provider communication was strongly linked to lower treatment adherence, with patients reporting poor communication being 64% less likely to adhere to recommended treatment (OR 0.36, p<0.001).

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  Minoritized groups were more likely to report inadequate communication, though the differences were not statistically significant.

Dr. Fumiko Chino, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an author of the study, noted, "Effective communication between providers and patients is crucial for treatment adherence. Our study underscores the need for healthcare providers to ensure better patient education about both short-term and long-term side effects to improve adherence to treatment protocols."

Both studies highlight critical aspects of breast cancer care that need immediate attention. Ensuring widespread implementation of survivorship care plans and enhancing provider communication could significantly improve survivorship outcomes and treatment adherence. Future research should focus on identifying and overcoming barriers to survivorship care plan implementation and improving communication strategies to support diverse patient populations.

Breastcancer.org is a leading patient-focused resource dedicated to providing reliable, up-to-date information and support to those affected by breast cancer. Founded in 2000 by chief medical officer Marisa C. Weiss, MD, it empowers people with research, expert information, and a dynamic peer support community to help them make the best decisions for their lives. Since its inception, the nonprofit organization has reached 232 million people worldwide.

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: 
Daisy Diaz
Director of Communications
press@breastcancer.org