Some patients can follow up quickly with their provider for next steps, while others play an unfortunate waiting game to create a plan. Prompt follow-up support could be crucial in setting patients up for successful treatment and survival. For example, one study examined the disparity between follow-up for patients who received abnormal breast cancer screening results after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Results showed the difference for timely follow-up care after breast cancer screenings at 3 months fell between 7% and 33%.¹ Why is there such a significant time gap? We can point to many factors, including a lack of appropriate tracking systems and limited care coordination between providers.^2,3   

For many patients, the barriers that prevent a timely follow-up are knowledge, access, and affordability of resources.³ Going through cancer diagnosis without having accessible and timely follow-up care can be harmful to a patient’s well-being. But how do we intervene and close these gaps? 

Let’s put this into perspective with a common narrative.   

After being recommended to get her first-ever breast cancer screening, Rose* is now facing something she’s been scared of for most of her life. She has early-stage breast cancer.  

After she witnessed her grandmother pass away from this horrible disease, she did everything she could to stay healthy – have a balanced diet, exercise, and get enough sleep. But still, she’s left with a diagnosis that she and her family knows all too well. 

Like millions of Americans diagnosed each year with cancer⁴, Rose is learning to navigate this new, unpredictable chapter of her life. How will she manage the needs of her job? How will she be strong for her family, even when she’s not feeling strong herself? She has the weight of the world on her shoulders.⁵ 

Rose’s story is not an uncommon one. There are thousands of Roses, feeling scared and overwhelmed with a new cancer diagnosis. Cancer does not discriminate: it does not care if you’re the sole provider for your family or fresh out of college. Everyone’s journey has unique and challenging circumstances. 

But what if we, as providers and healthcare leaders, could provide extra support to these individuals from the start?  What if, instead of delivering the news and scheduling another appointment, patients could start their treatment journey with a sense of empathy, community, and empowerment? 

What if all the Roses out there had unconditional support and guidance from the beginning? 

Incorporating one-on-one connection following a screening and cancer diagnosis feels like a natural next step to ensure a supportive treatment journey.^6,7 There are multiple reasons this approach is ideal. One being that moving from screening/diagnosis straight to treatment can feel extremely overwhelming for patients. Inserting a support intervention like a health coach or care navigator before treatment can help alleviate stress and transition individuals more seamlessly. 

One study reported that some breast cancer survivors felt the hardest part of their journey was when they first received their diagnosis.⁸ Many felt their diagnosis changed almost every element of what they knew in their life, and it was much quicker than they expected.^5,9,10 Others felt that they didn’t know where to turn after hearing the words “you have cancer.”  

 If these individuals had the support they needed to take on their diagnosis from the beginning, they may not have looked back and remembered feeling this way.   

Because receiving a cancer diagnosis sets a new life journey in motion and impacts every area of a patient’s being, this should impact the way we deliver care. Comprehensive cancer support should start at the point of screening, not just when treatment begins. 

Here’s the good news – there are existing support interventions for patients diagnosed with cancer. For example, if you receive an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis like Rose, there are many programs to help prepare you for treatment decision-making¹¹, increasing physical activity¹², improving social support¹³, and enriching quality of life through coaching.¹⁴ 

So, the issue isn’t that these programs don’t exist. The issue is that they are almost always disjointed.  

The patient is expected to reach out and find the support on their own. The burden is typically put on them to help themselves. But who wants to add another to-do list item when they’ve just received life-changing news?  

The point is, we need to make these services readily available and proactively enroll individuals who want the extra assistance at the point of screening and diagnosis.  

Let’s go back to Rose’s story. Knowing that she’s just been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, her provider lets her know that if she’s ready, one-to-one support is waiting for her. All she has to do is say the word, and her new health coach will reach out to her that same day. Rose’s provider lets her know that her health coach will already be aware of her situation, so she won’t have to recount all of her medical information.  

When she has a call with her new coach, Grace, the following day, Rose finds that Grace is not only knowledgeable about her condition but understands how to empower Rose as she starts this new journey. She feels so much more prepared about what’s next. And best of all, she feels a lot less alone. 

Following up screenings with a care intervention like digital health coaching can help patients feel that they are not alone in their care experience.^15,16,17,18 With this connected and thoughtful care process, those newly diagnosed will have a chance to feel supported, educated, and empowered now until the end of their treatment journey. This vision of Rose doesn’t have to be a “best case” scenario. If we rethink how we connect the services we have, it can be THE scenario.¹⁹