Health care priorities for menopausal women with a history of breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The opinion of breast cancer survivors and their physicians about long-term health, especially menopause, is not well understood. METHODS: Seventy-three patients and 22 physicians answered questions regarding medical follow-up and menopause. RESULTS: One third of specialists preferred follow-up of 5 years or less, while 59% preferred 10 years or longer; 46% of patients preferred follow-up for 10 years or longer. Physicians preferred that primary care physicians supervise menopausal health (55%), but patients disagreed (30%). Physicians cited heart health most important, followed by skeletal health and climacteric symptoms. Physicians believed that climacteric symptoms were patients' leading concern, but patients cited heart health, followed by skeletal health and cognitive dysfunction. Neither patients nor physicians advocated estrogen use. CONCLUSIONS: Differences of opinion exist between breast cancer patients and specialists regarding follow-up and management of menopause. However, both patients and physicians prefer prolonged surveillance by a cancer specialist, with attention to heart and skeletal health issues.