Quality of Life Issues Following Breast Cancer Treatment.

Breast surgeons are trained in diagnostic modalities, treatment effectiveness, patient safety, and operative techniques, with emphasis on "the right treatment at the right time for the right patient." But delivering quality breast cancer care means more than achieving good outcomes. Physicians have routinely measured disease-free survival and overall survival to determine success in treating breast cancer. Patients are demanding attention to "quality of life" outcomes as well. As clinicians caring for patients with breast cancer, our focus must shift from early detection to survivorship to re-evaluate our own definition of cure and address the important issues affecting the quality of life of all of our patients.