Costs of different follow-up strategies in early breast cancer: A review of the literature

Abstract We reviewed the literature between January 1985 and June 2011 on the costs of different follow-up strategies for patients treated for early breast cancer. A total of 186 abstracts were retrieved of which eleven publications were considered relevant; 6 randomised clinical trials, 4 retrospec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Breast (Edinburgh) 2012-12, Vol.21 (6), p.693-700
Main Authors: van Hezewijk, Marjan, Elske van den Akker, M, van de Velde, Cornelis J.H, Scholten, Astrid N, Hille, Elysée T.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis
Breast Neoplasms - economics
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Breast Neoplasms - therapy
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-effectiveness
Costs
Europe
Female
Follow-up
Health Care Costs
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Mammography - economics
Neoplasm Metastasis - diagnosis
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - diagnosis
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - economics
Neoplasm Staging
Population Surveillance - methods
Review
Telemedicine - economics
United States
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Summary:Abstract We reviewed the literature between January 1985 and June 2011 on the costs of different follow-up strategies for patients treated for early breast cancer. A total of 186 abstracts were retrieved of which eleven publications were considered relevant; 6 randomised clinical trials, 4 retrospective cohort studies and 1 ‘minisymposium’. The follow-up strategies, outcome measures and methods of analysis used in these studies vary widely, so no general conclusions can be drawn. However, from the results we infer that patient-led follow-up by a nurse practitioner, follow-up by a general practitioner, or telephone follow-up is feasible and cost-effective, without routine additional tests, except annual mammograms. In this era of increasing health care costs, cost-effectiveness, evaluated in a standardised way, should be taken into account in future clinical trials.
ISSN:0960-9776
1532-3080
DOI:10.1016/j.breast.2012.09.009