Young adult cancer survivors' (CS) follow-up care expectations of their primary care providers (PCPs) and oncologists.

9598 Background: The delivery of cancer survivorship care can be complicated by a lack of clarity surrounding physician roles during follow-up. This can be particularly challenging for young adult CS who face unique needs. Our aim was to characterize young CS’ follow-up care expectations of their PCPs and oncologists. Methods: A self-administered survey was mailed to all CS diagnosed with cancer from 2005 to 2009, aged 20 to 39 years at the time of diagnosis, evaluated at any 1 of 5 regional cancer centers in British Columbia, and lived beyond 2 years. The questionnaire focused on demographics, prior treatment, and CS attitudes regarding physician responsibilities during survivorship, specifically their views about their PCPs’ and oncologists’ roles. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to summarize these expectations and to determine if they differed based on physician type. Results: A total of 426 patients were included (response rate 59%): current median age was 40 years (range 24-45) and 301 (71%) were women. Common tumor sites were breast (48%), testicular (27%), and gynecological (18%). Most patients (63 and 65%, respectively) expected PCPs to be responsible for following their most recent cancer and screening for future cancers. Nearly all (85 and 93%, respectively) indicated that PCPs should also provide preventive care and manage their co-morbidities. Conversely, a significant proportion (65%) felt that oncologists should remain responsible for addressing side effects of cancer treatments throughout survivorship. In terms of fertility discussions, half of patients viewed this as a role for oncologists whereas the remainder perceived this to be more suitable for PCPs. Interestingly, neither PCPs nor oncologists were seen to have any significant role in addressing social reintegration, interpersonal relationships, or sexual function, with <30% of respondents expecting these to be discussed by either physician. Conclusions: Young adult CS expect PCPs to be responsible for most aspects of their ongoing care. More clarity regarding physician roles is required with respect to specific survivorship issues, such as fertility, sexual function and psychosocial health.