A new model of cancer survivorship: Feasibility and findings of a survivorship-based primary care clinic led by a medical oncologist.

Authors

Ilana Yurkiewicz

Ilana Yurkiewicz

Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA

Ilana Yurkiewicz , Natasha Steele

Organizations

Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: Since the Institute of Medicine published “From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition,” there has been widespread recognition of the role of primary care in providing long-term care for cancer survivors. However, many gaps remain as patients transition from oncology to primary care. We report on the findings of an innovative practice model in which a medical oncologist opened a primary care clinic to address survivorship-specific needs and ongoing primary care in one place. Methods: The clinic was housed in the primary care division of a large academic medical center. The physician is board certified in internal medicine, oncology, and hematology. Data were collected from when the clinic opened November 1, 2021 through January 31, 2023 via electronic chart review. Results: A total of 209 patients established care. Seventy-four percent were women, with a mean age 54, age range 19 to 89, and 24% adolescents and young adults aged 39 or younger. The most common cancer was breast (44%), followed by leukemia (12%) and lymphoma (10%). Thirty-two patients (15%) had undergone an allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT). Thirty-three patients (16%) had a hereditary cancer syndrome, including 11 with a BRCA mutation and 10 with a TP53 mutation. A majority (74%) were post treatment; 22% had active disease; and 3% were “previvors” with a genetic syndrome without a cancer diagnosis. Twenty-seven (13%) had more than one cancer. Most referrals came from medical oncology (36%), followed by self-referrals (29%) and hematology or BMT (11%). Most (74%) returned for at least one follow-up visit. Long-term and late effects were addressed in 87% and at least one other primary care problem was managed in 96%. These included cardiovascular risk (92%, with a new cardiovascular medication started in 31 patients), mental health (76%), bone health (47%), sexual health (22%), and fertility (19%). Secondary cancer screening was addressed in 93%, and four secondary cancers were diagnosed. Surveillance for the primary cancer was addressed in 86%, and seven recurrences were diagnosed. Conclusions: Given a growing need to care for cancer survivors and known challenges in the oncology to primary care pipeline, new models of comprehensive survivorship care are greatly needed. This study demonstrates the feasibility and high demand for a novel survivorship-based primary care clinic in which both ongoing survivorship needs and routine primary care are managed concurrently.

Table 1: Survivorship clinic patient characteristics.
Active Disease (N = 47)Post Treatment (N = 155)
Age in years (mean)6352
Gender (% female)57%79%
Hereditary syndrome (%)15%13%
BMT (%)3%17%
Cardiovascular risks addressed (%)91%92%
Mental health addressed (%)70%90%
Bone health addressed (%)45%67%
Sexual health addressed (%)11%25%
Fertility addressed (%)6%21%
Secondary cancers screened (%)89%94%

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Symptoms and Survivorship

Track

Symptom Science and Palliative Care

Sub Track

Health Promotion/Behaviors

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr e24043)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e24043

Abstract #

e24043

Abstract Disclosures

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