‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’ GUIDELINE NOT COST-EFFECTIVE FOR ALL WOMEN WITH EARLY BREAST CANCER

Published Nov 18, 2014
Adelaide, South Australia - Due to early diagnosis and improved treatment, the number of breast cancer survivors is increasing. All of these women will need follow-up mammography to detect recurrent or new disease. International breast cancer clinical guidelines recommend annual follow-up mammograms for every woman after treatment for early breast cancer, regardless of their risk of recurrence. In the study, “A Patient-Level Calibration Framework for Evaluating Surveillance Strategies: A Case Study of Mammographic Follow-Up After Early Breast Cancer,” researchers from the University of Adelaide - Discipline of Public Health demonstrate the use of de-identified, routinely collected health service data and simulation modelling to predict the long-term costs and health outcomes of alternative mammography schedules for women, based on their age and the features of their primary breast cancer. The results showed that for younger postmenopausal women at moderate risk of recurrence, annual follow-up for five years, with two yearly visits thereafter appears to be cost-effective. For older women, a mammography schedule similar to screening intervals in the general population (2 yearly) is likely to be most cost-effective, if women continue to attend follow-up mammography. The researchers conclude that the current ‘one size fits all’ guideline of annual follow-up mammography may not be cost-effective for all women with early breast cancer. If the results are validated with larger, better quality datasets, this work could set the stage for personalised mammographic follow-up after breast cancer. Study author, Professor Jon Karnon states, “Early diagnosis and more effective treatment have significantly improved the prognosis of many cancer patients, but approaches to surveillance have not changed. These results indicate the potential to improve surveillance of cancer survivors from both a patient and health system perspective.”

Related Stories

Generative AI Set to Reshape Health Technology Assessment, ISPOR Report Finds

Feb 11, 2025

Value in Health, the official journal of ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research, announced today the publication of an ISPOR Working Group Report that provides an introduction to the uses of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in health technology assessment (HTA).

ISPOR Tackles Health Disparities with New Research Primer

Jan 22, 2025

ISPOR announced today the publication of a report from the ISPOR Health Equity Research Special Interest Group intended to establish key concepts for conducting health equity research that enables investigators to examine—and ultimately reduce—unfair social inequities in health.

Global Expert Panel Releases Good Practices Guidance for Developing or Updating Health Technology Assessment Guidelines

Jan 14, 2025

ISPOR announced today the publication of a tripartite task force report outlining good practices for developing or updating health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines.
Your browser is out-of-date

ISPOR recommends that you update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on ispor.org. Update my browser now

×