Dr Laura Magill
University of Birmingham
Awarded: £49,853.45
The challenge
Treatment for sarcoma can require a major operation to remove the cancer followed by a period of follow-up with scans. The scans check whether the cancer has grown back or spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer has returned, it is often monitored for a while and further treatment may be offered. It is unclear how frequently scans should be done after surgery with great variation in follow-up plans between hospitals. Our Patient Advisory Group highlighted that regular scans can cause anxiety and it is unclear whether frequent follow-up changes treatment options or lengthens life.
How will this project tackle this challenge?
In this study, following surgery patients will be allocated or can choose either high or lower intensity follow-up over five years. The team will use questionnaires to monitor wellbeing over time and will then compare quality of life and survival between groups. This will allow a comparison of outcomes when patients have control over their follow-up plans versus when it is determined for them.
What this means for people affected by sarcoma
This project will help optimise sarcoma follow-up to improve patients’ quality of life, survival outcomes, quality of care, reduce anxiety and distress and lower costs for patients and the NHS.
