Towards understanding and improving cancer screening practices in cancer survivors: systematic review and meta-analysis

Growing numbers of people diagnosed with cancer and improving cancer survival rates have led to an increasing number of cancer survivors in Canada and worldwide. These cancer survivors have a greater risk of developing some types of new cancers. Therefore, following cancer treatment, survivors enter a period of 'routine follow-up care,' which should involve surveillance for recurrences (e.g., spread of the initial cancer) and screening for new cancers. Numerous studies have examined screening practices in cancer survivors, with mixed findings. However, the current literature has not been adequately systematically reviewed and practice guidelines are not available. The aims of this project are to: 1) synthesize available literature on whether cancer survivors receive recommended screening for new cancers and 2) develop knowledge translation methods and relationships that will inform and help integrate our (current and future) research findings into cancer screening and survivorship practices, programs, and policies. We will conduct a systematic review on cancer screening practices in cancer survivors and appropriately synthesize the evidence to determine whether the uptake of screening tests (for breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers) in cancer survivors is similar to that of the general population. By doing so, we will better understand cancer screening practices in cancer survivors and improve these practices through: i) providing this information to care providers, screening programs, cancer survivors, and others who play a role in follow-up care and ii) developing/improving tools that specifically target cancer survivors and those who care for them (e.g., survivorship care plans). Given the growing number of cancer survivors, this study will help meet the rising worldwide demand to develop tools that allow us to provide efficient, timely, and quality care in the follow-up period.