Staying on track with cancer medication after treatment is one of the hardest challenges breast cancer survivors face. However, a new study from the University of Georgia (UGA) suggests that telehealth may offer a powerful solution. Women who used telehealth services were 58% more likely to adhere to their prescribed breast cancer treatment. This finding, published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, could reshape how oncologists support long-term cancer care.
What the Study Found
Key Data Points from the UGA Research
Researchers at UGA’s College of Pharmacy analyzed data from the Merative MarketScan database. Their study included more than 1,100 commercially insured women under age 65, all diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer who began endocrine therapy in 2018. The team then tracked these patients for five years.
The results were striking. Over the five-year period, 77% of patients used telehealth services, accounting for a total of 8,350 visits. Moreover, those who engaged with telehealth were significantly more likely to keep taking their prescribed medications consistently. The study was published in December 2025 and has drawn considerable attention from the oncology and pharmacy communities.
Why Telehealth Improves Medication Adherence
Removing Barriers That Stop Patients from Staying on Track
After chemotherapy and surgery, most breast cancer survivors receive a prescription for oral endocrine therapy. These medications work to prevent cancer from returning. For them to be effective, patients must take them regularly — often for five to ten years. Unfortunately, side effects such as fertility issues, joint pain, and other quality-of-life impairments make long-term adherence difficult. This challenge is especially common among younger women.
Telehealth helps address this problem in several ways. First, it removes transportation and logistical barriers that often prevent patients from attending in-person follow-up visits. Second, it gives providers a direct channel to check in on patients, assess side effects, and adjust care plans quickly. Third, it makes routine follow-ups feel less burdensome, since patients do not need to leave home.
Additionally, telehealth allows clinicians to proactively reinforce the importance of staying on medication. As Lorenzo Villa-Zapata, co-author of the study and assistant professor at UGA’s College of Pharmacy, explained, the goal is to remind patients how critical it is to continue their medications to avoid cancer recurrence or metastasis. Providers can ask directly whether patients are taking their doses and whether they face any barriers.
Who Uses Telehealth Most — and Who Doesn’t
Urban Patients Lead Telehealth Adoption
The study found a clear geographic pattern. Women in urban areas were more likely to use telehealth than those in rural regions. Interestingly, the motivation for urban patients was largely convenience. Many preferred a phone or video call over dealing with traffic and parking. As Villa-Zapata noted, urban patients are often willing to skip the drive to a clinic in favor of a quick virtual consultation.
Rural Patients Face Access Gaps
In contrast, rural patients used telehealth less frequently. Researchers pointed to limited internet access and lower technology adoption as key reasons. This creates a troubling disparity — the patients who might benefit most from avoiding long commutes to healthcare facilities are also the least likely to have reliable telehealth access. Addressing this gap is critical to ensuring equitable cancer care across all communities.
Furthermore, women in the Western United States were more likely to use telehealth compared to other regions, suggesting that geography and local healthcare infrastructure play important roles in digital health adoption.
The Hidden Cost of Telehealth
Higher Out-of-Pocket Expenses Are a Barrier
Telehealth comes with a financial downside that researchers could not overlook. Patients who used telehealth services paid 15% more in out-of-pocket costs than those who did not. Part of this increase likely reflects the fact that patients with multiple chronic conditions used telehealth more frequently, resulting in higher overall healthcare spending.
Nevertheless, cost remains a real barrier. Insurance reimbursement for telehealth has been a contested issue in recent years. Villa-Zapata was direct about the implications: if insurers do not reimburse for telehealth services, patients simply will not use them. Therefore, expanding and standardizing telehealth coverage is essential to capturing its full potential in cancer care.
What Experts Are Saying
Researchers Call for Patient-Centered Telehealth Design
Shaimaa Elshafie, the study’s lead author, highlighted the team’s next steps. Researchers are currently collecting patient perceptions about telehealth to identify what drives utilization, what benefits patients perceive, and what obstacles they encounter. This data will help design more effective and accessible digital care programs.
The broader research community has also taken note. A systematic review published in PMC emphasized that telehealth provides clinical support, health education, and symptom management — all without requiring an in-person visit. These capabilities are especially valuable during the survivorship phase of breast cancer care, when consistent monitoring can catch problems early.
The Road Ahead for Telehealth in Cancer Care
Expanding Access Could Save More Lives
The UGA researchers are optimistic about the long-term impact of their findings. By making telehealth coverage more accessible and affordable, more breast cancer survivors can stick to their treatment plans. As a result, the likelihood of cancer recurrence decreases significantly.
To realize this potential, several steps are necessary. Policymakers must address insurance reimbursement policies. Healthcare systems must invest in digital infrastructure in rural areas. Additionally, providers need training to integrate telehealth seamlessly into oncology workflows. Together, these efforts could transform telehealth from a convenient option into a cornerstone of cancer survivorship care.
Conclusion
Telehealth is proving to be far more than a convenience tool — it is a clinically meaningful intervention for breast cancer survivors. A 58% improvement in treatment adherence is a compelling statistic that demands attention from insurers, policymakers, and healthcare providers alike. While cost and access barriers remain, the evidence is clear: expanding telehealth in oncology care can help patients stay on life-saving medications and reduce the risk of cancer returning.
