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Medical Care After Treatment

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Follow Up
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All breast cancer survivors need to see their health care providers regularly. This follow-up care helps track the effectiveness of treatment and gives you a time to ask questions and share your concerns.

The goals of these regular visits are to:

  •  Find any cancer that has returned to the breast, chest or nearby lymph nodes (local recurrence).
  •  Find breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (distant recurrence).
  •  Find any new breast tumors.
  •  Find any side effects related to treatment (such as lymphedema, endometrial cancer or heart problems). 
  • Screen for other health-related risks (such as pelvic exams and Pap smears for women).

(Adapted from National Health and Medical Research Council materials [12].)

Follow-up care after breast cancer treatment (see Figure 6.1) includes regular physical exams, mammograms, bone health tests and pelvic exams (for women) [13].

During follow-up visits with your health care provider, you will learn about any symptoms of recurrence and you will be asked about any symptoms or concerns you're having. This is a good time to talk about how you’re coping emotionally. Your health care provider can also refer you to a support group or counselor.

Figure 6.1: Recommended Medical Care After Treatment for Breast Cancer

 

Medical history and physical exam All survivors
Every four to six months for five years, then every 12 months.
Mammogram Women treated with lumpectomy and radiation
Six months after radiation therapy ends, then every six to 12 months.
  Women treated with mastectomy  Every 12 months.
Pelvic exam/Pap smear Women who have not had their uterus removed (have not had a hysterectomy)  Every 12 months.
Bone health exams
Women at higher risk of osteoporosis (women with risk factors such as, age > 65 years; age 60-64 years with family history/low body weight; aromatase inhibitor use; treatment-related menopause) Bone mineral density test every 12 months.
  Women at lower risk of osteoporosis
Office visit to check osteoporosis risk, every 12 months.
 

Adapted from NCCN, Practice Guidelines in Oncology, 2007 [14] and ASCO 2003 update on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health issues in women with breast cancer, 2003 [15].

Updated 03/14/09

 

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