Dr. Danciu on Prescreening and Identifying Breast Cancer Survivors

Oana C. Danciu, MD, assistant professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, discusses a study examining a team-based approach to prescreen and identify breast cancer survivors using a survivorship care plan.

Previously, the multidisciplinary approach of a survivorship care plan was reaching 25% of patients at the University of Illinois, Danciu explains. However, the goal was to reach 100%. Therefore, the team prescreened patients and identified those who qualified as survivors; survivors were defined as patients who completed their active treatments.

The clinic was able to reach above 90% compliance with the new team-based approach. Most recently, the University of Illinois has established a breast cancer survivorship clinic, where oncologists discuss survivorship issues and review care plans and treatment summaries. Danciu predicts this will help the clinic reach 100% compliance.