The patient's point of view

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Abstract
Aim of the Study Group for Psycho-Social Implications of Follow-up : For the first time in Italy, patients and members of breast-cancer patients' associations have been offered the opportunity to participate in the production of recommendations for the framework of a national Consensus Conference on the follow-up of breast cancer. Organization and methods of the working groups : Three different working groups were assembled. The first performed an ‘epidemiological analysis’, starting with available data from surveys carried out in Italy. The second performed a qualitative assessment of personal response to the follow-up experience. Finally, the third group organized a focus group of patients treated in the Apulia region, coordinated by a surgeon, a radiotherapist and a psychologist. Conclusions : The final document presented to the Jury of the Conference focused on five aspects particularly relevant to the patients: 1. the need of a regular clinical examination as a key point of follow-up; 2. the importance of being assured of continuity of care delivered by a multidisciplinary team; 3. the importance of full information sharing between patient and physician on diagnosis and follow-up; 4. the need for explicit guidelines to assure that patients receive good quality care and to minimize unjustified variations; 5. the importance of breast cancer patients' associations was confirmed by all participants.