October 9, 2014 -
The introduction of a multidisciplinary treatment plan improves care for women with breast cancer. This has been shown by research by the Integral Cancer Centre Netherlands (IKNL). Not only the chance of recovery increases, a plan of care also leads to fewer unnecessary treatments and shorter waiting and processing times.
The IKNL performed the recent treatment plan study in the ChipSoft health care facility Nij Smellinghe (Drachten), Tjongerschans Hospital (Heerenveen) and Antonius Hospital (Sneek). A treatment plan describes the steps that healthcare providers must take regarding the diagnosis of the patient. The IKNL study shows that the introduction of the breast cancer treatment plan has led to seven of the eight medical indicators are improved. The result: the national guidelines are followed better and the care of breast cancer patients improves.
High chance of recovery
An important conclusion is that the multidisciplinary treatment plan increases the chance of recovery. The treatment plan resulted in a higher number of HER2/re-tests, which provides insight into the presence of a protein that makes the tumour more aggressive. Science is important in the determination of the correct (subsequent) treatment.
The introduction of the treatment plan also lead to fewer unnecessary treatments. Because the so-called sentry gland procedure is performed more often, fewer women had to have the axillary glands removed. In addition, the breast cancer treatment plan caused the simultaneous use of radio and chemotherapy to be reduced. According to to the IKNL, his was one of the intended goals of the treatment plan, because the combination of these therapies can be a heavy burden for the patient.
Shorter processing times
The researchers also stated that the treatment plan has a positive influence on the waiting and processing times in the hospitals. Especially the run time between the first visit to the outpatient clinic and the final results from the pathologist is shortened, as well as the period between surgery and follow-up treatment.
The final conclusion of the researchers: the introduction of the breast cancer treatment plan and the MDC (multidisciplinary consultation) form the key to further improvement of care for women with breast cancer.
