Abstract
Aims: Breast cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share common risk factors, with breast cancer treatment substantially increasing risk for CVD. Despite this, there are limited evidence-based resources to support patients and clinicians. This study aimed to identify the availability of resources and tools that can support best-practice in the management of CVD in breast cancer patients and survivors via a nurse-led model of care.
Methods: A search of the literature for the management of CVD in breast cancer patients and survivors, to identify best available evidence of cardio-oncology interventions. Existing resources available from the Heart Foundation and Cancer Organisations (Cancer Council; Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Breast Cancer Network Australia) were examined to determine their alignment with current recommendations.
Results: The Heart Foundation has numerous resources available for cardiac health, risk factors and lifestyle behaviours; however, these all have a focus on cardiac conditions. Cancer specialists have extensive resources available for all cancers, including breast cancer; however, our review noted there is limited focus on heart health and cardiac risk factors. CVD assessment tools such as a cancer patient’s assessment guide, heart health and risk factor information pamphlets, medical record template, referral template and letter to GP’s template, have mostly been developed using best available evidence and stakeholder feedback, with continued evaluation and updating, to meet the needs of providers, patients and clinicians.
Conclusions: Management of CVD risk in breast cancer patients and survivors represents an important unmet need that is currently developed on an informal basis. A more rigorous process of development could improve the quality and availability of resources and assessment tools for effective education, documentation and communication to support nurse-led models of care.
Methods: A search of the literature for the management of CVD in breast cancer patients and survivors, to identify best available evidence of cardio-oncology interventions. Existing resources available from the Heart Foundation and Cancer Organisations (Cancer Council; Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Breast Cancer Network Australia) were examined to determine their alignment with current recommendations.
Results: The Heart Foundation has numerous resources available for cardiac health, risk factors and lifestyle behaviours; however, these all have a focus on cardiac conditions. Cancer specialists have extensive resources available for all cancers, including breast cancer; however, our review noted there is limited focus on heart health and cardiac risk factors. CVD assessment tools such as a cancer patient’s assessment guide, heart health and risk factor information pamphlets, medical record template, referral template and letter to GP’s template, have mostly been developed using best available evidence and stakeholder feedback, with continued evaluation and updating, to meet the needs of providers, patients and clinicians.
Conclusions: Management of CVD risk in breast cancer patients and survivors represents an important unmet need that is currently developed on an informal basis. A more rigorous process of development could improve the quality and availability of resources and assessment tools for effective education, documentation and communication to support nurse-led models of care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 76 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2021 |
| Event | Clinical Oncology Society of Australia & Flinders University Cancer Survivorship Conference 2021 - Virtual conference Duration: 18 Mar 2021 → 19 Mar 2021 |
Conference
| Conference | Clinical Oncology Society of Australia & Flinders University Cancer Survivorship Conference 2021 |
|---|---|
| Period | 18/03/21 → 19/03/21 |
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Patient outcomes
