Breast Cancer Res Treat

Purpose To describe which providers provide breast cancer survivorship care. Patients and Methods We conducted a longitudinal survey of non-metastatic breast cancer patients identified by the SEER registries of Los Angeles and Detroit. Multinomial logistic regression examined the adjusted odds of surgeon compared with a medical oncologist follow up or primary care provider compared with medical oncologist follow up, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, insurance, tumor stage, receipt of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy use, and visit to a medical oncologist at the time of diagnosis. Results were weighted to account for sample selection and non-response. Results 844 women had invasive disease and received chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. 65.2% reported medical oncologists as their main care provider at four years, followed by PCP/other physicians (24.3%) and surgeons (10.5%). Black women were more likely to receive their follow-up care from surgeons (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.16–5.27) or PCP/other physicians (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.47–4.65) than medical oncologists. Latinas were more likely to report PCP/other physician follow up than medical oncologists (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.15–4.73). Compared with privately-insured women, Medicaid recipients were more likely to report PCP/other physician follow up (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.24–5.15). Women taking endocrine therapy four years after diagnosis were less likely to report surgeons or PCP/other physicians as their primary provider of breast cancer follow up care. Conclusions Different survivorship care patterns based on race/ethnicity and insurance status. Interventions are needed to inform patients and providers on the recommended sources of breast cancer follow up.

24481682

PMC3991008

Journal Article

SEER Program

United States

CDC Public Access