Long-term survivorship-prospects and problems of long-term survival

Background. In recent years, multimodal therapies have optimized breast cancer treatment, giving patients a better prognosis. More and more women are long-term-survivors and breast cancer is becoming a chronic disease. However, as a result of therapy, some patients have ongoing physical challenges or will experience late effects, such as functional impairments, problems in cognitive or social functioning or severe emotional distress. Furthermore, due to increased life expectancy, there is an increasing number of older breast cancer survivors with a number of comorbidities. Question. The aim of the following article is to demonstrate some of the side effects and late effects of breast cancer therapy and to present options to reduce them. Guideline recommendations are included. Results. Affected women receive a lot of care, and various professional groups are integrated in theirmedical and psychosocial care. Discussion. In order to provide long-term survivors with good ongoing care, it is necessary to optimize existing structures in Germany. Acute treatment is often provided at the time of diagnosis and during treatment. In the time after this phase, the points of contact for the different sectors are often missing. Women continue to require multidisciplinary care even after treatment. It is important to detect late and side effects, as well as physical, social or mental problems as early as possible.