Medical, Psychosocial, and Health-Related Quality of Life Issues in Breast Cancer Survivors

Women with breast cancer account for the largest group of female cancer survivors. It is estimated that there are currently 8.9 million cancer survivors in the United States; 41% of the female subjects are breast cancer survivors.1 The growing number of breast cancer survivors reflects increasing incidence of the disease, diagnosis at earlier stages when outcome is better, and widespread adoption of effective adjuvant treatment (see Chapter 28 and Chapter 54).