Reducing routine hospital follow-up visits after curative breast cancer treatment
Official title: Evaluating the De-Escalation of Surveillance for Patients Who Have Undergone Curative Treatment for Primary Breast Cancer - A Prospective, Randomised Controlled Trial
Run by Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland · NCT07572370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries a simpler follow-up plan for women doing well two years after curative breast cancer treatment to see if they can stop in-person clinic visits while still getting annual mammograms.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 560 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dublin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | May 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07572370 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Women aged 18 or older who were treated with curative intent for primary breast cancer, are disease-free at their 24-month follow-up, are resident in the Republic of Ireland, and can complete study questionnaires.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with current recurrence or metastatic disease, those unable to provide informed consent or complete questionnaires, or those not intending to continue follow-up within the Irish health system are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Beaumont Hospital is enrolling women who are 24 months after curative treatment for primary breast cancer and currently disease-free to compare a reduced clinic follow-up schedule with the usual five-year schedule. Some participants will be discharged from in-person surveillance after two years while continuing annual mammography and regular questionnaires, and others will continue standard clinic visits. The study will track recurrence rates, how recurrences are detected, healthcare use, and patient-reported quality of life (including EQ-5D-5L) using clinical records and imaging. Investigators aim to determine whether fewer routine clinic visits can maintain patient safety while reducing burden and anxiety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce clinic visits and related anxiety while preserving safe detection of recurrences and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational studies and audits suggest most recurrences are detected by patients or annual mammography rather than routine clinic visits, and limited evidence indicates de-escalated surveillance can be safe though randomized high-quality data remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 18 years or older * Prior diagnosis of primary breast cancer treated with curative intent * Currently under cancer surveillance and at the 24-month follow-up timepoint * No clinical or radiological evidence of disease recurrence or metastasis at the time of recruitment (e.g., no palpable mass, skin or nipple changes, or suspicious findings on imaging) * Able to read, write, and speak English sufficiently to complete the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire (paper-based or via telephone) * Resident in the Republic of Ireland with a fixed address and intention to continue follow-up within the Irish healthcare system Exclusion Criteria: * Evidence of breast cancer recurrence or metastatic disease at the time of recruitment * Inability to provide informed consent * Inability to complete study questionnaires (e.g., due to language barriers or cognitive impairment) * Not resident in the Republic of Ireland or not intending to remain in follow-up within the Irish healthcare system
Where it's running
-
Beaumont Hospital
Dublin, Ireland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Emma Forde, Medical Doctor & Scientist
- Email: eforde@rcsi.com
- Phone: +353896126509
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.