People with high-risk early breast cancer are increasingly treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors alongside endocrine therapy. These treatments improve outcomes but can cause side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, and low white blood counts. As a result, patients require frequent clinic visits, blood tests, and sometimes heart monitoring. While necessary, this model of care can be stressful, time-consuming, and costly, and it contributes to growing pressure on already busy oncology clinics and healthcare systems.
This study will evaluate a more patient-centred approach using virtual care and remote monitoring. Instead of travelling to the Juravinski Cancer Centre every two weeks, patients in the intervention group will meet with a trained oncology nurse through secure video visits. They will also use home-based tools to track vital signs, monitor heart rhythm when needed, and complete brief online symptom and quality-of-life surveys.
Blood tests will continue at a nearby laboratory to ensure safety and maintain standard clinical oversight throughout treatment. Sixty (60) patients will take part and be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 40 receiving virtual care with remote monitoring; and 20 receiving usual care with in-person visits every two weeks. The study lasts 12 weeks. After this, all patients will return to usual follow-up, when visits are typically less frequent.
If successful, this model could reduce patient burden, improve access to care, and ease pressure on cancer clinics across Canada.
