Session Item

In this debate, this house will discuss the rationale for patient-led follow up after breast cancer treatment. The key components of follow-up after breast cancer treatment include monitoring and managing treatment side-effects, detecting recurrences and providing psychological support. Patient led follow-up empowers the patient in the next phase in their treatment journey allowing their individual needs to be met in a personalised manner. After completion of their cancer treatment patients will have a nurse-led discussion of treatment side-effects, a holistic needs assessment, education regarding detecting the signs and symptoms of recurrence, rapid access contact for advice and clinic as well as access to psychological support services. Patients will also receive annual mammograms as part of their patient-led follow-up. In this debate the evidence for patient-led follow-up will be discussed as well as arguments against regular hospital visits and regular investigations.