Breast and colorectal cancer survivors’ experience with transition to primary care provider follow-up care: A qualitative study on cancer type and sex

Lauriane Giguère, Brittany Mutsaers, Dina Babiker, Paola Garcia, Tori Langmuir, Carrie MacDonald-Liska, Justin Presseau, Gail Larocque, Cheryl Harris, Marie-Hélène Chomienne, Kednapa Thavorn, Sophie Lebel

Abstract


As of 2024, 64% of cancer survivors live five years or longer after their treatment. However, this growing population, with its specific follow-up care needs, has struggled with the transition from active cancer treatment to follow-up in primary care. More information is required on what facilitates or hinders this transition. Potential factors that influence how cancer survivors experience this transition include sex and cancer type. Using secondary thematic and content analysis of 30 colorectal and breast cancer survivors interviews, we examined the impact of sex and cancer type on survivorship experiences. Themes extracted showed that sex and cancer type influenced survivors’ experience of transition both intersectionally and separately. Colorectal cancer survivors reported more late and long-term side effects than breast cancer survivors, with differently described and experienced quality of life (QOL) and unmet needs. Males relied more on their wives to manage their follow-up care and were more distant with their healthcare providers, while females took charge of their own follow-up care and reported closeness to their healthcare providers, which favorably impacted their follow-up care transition.

Keywords: survivorship, qualitative methods, follow-up care, sociodemographic characteristics, cancer type, sex and sex-based analysis


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