This is one of those "good news/bad news" things. More women are surviving breast cancer and living long and full lives. That, of course, is the good news.

But say you're a year out from diagnosis and treatment and you are doing okay but still don't feel confident yet? You're still dealing with long-term side effects of your chemotherapy and radiation and you still fear recurrence. Then suddenly, your oncologist tells you that he or she can't see you anymore because of the increasing numbers of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who need your seat. So good luck ... and goodbye!

That, of course, is the bad news. This is the situation we at the Hopkins Breast Center are facing more and more often because, first of all, oncologists are in short supply and, second, the number of breast cancer diagnoses is increasing. As these trends continue—and they will—we are increasingly going to be trying to put 10 pounds of salt into a 5-pound bag. Doesn't work too well.

So, one big question in breast cancer management today is, "Who will now care for survivors in the long-term?" And the patients themselves are asking, "Who among the doctors who know all about the issues I'm facing, will be there for me now? Who's going to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks?"

Does your primary care doc fit this bill? Or your gynecologist? Most women don't think so. But you should certainly be asking these questions. You may very well have to seek out a doctor who specializes in cancer survivors. (They do exist among the ranks of both internal medicine doctors and gynecologists.) 

When seeking out such a physician, it's important for you to know what to ask and what the right answers are. Learn about survivorship issues. Empower yourself with information. One resource about this issue is a book my Johns Hopkins colleague, surgeon Ted Tsangaris, and I wrote last year called, The Johns Hopkins Breast Cancer Guide for Health Care Professionals. It's not aimed just at doctors and nurses, but is also meant to be another valuable resource for survivors.

In the months ahead, I'll be blogging about this issue that's so important to survivors.