Many women are relieved or excited to be finished with breast cancer treatment, as this may signal a new start in life. At the same time, it can also be a time of worry for women who fear their cancer could come back, or who feel lost without the same level of care from their cancer care team.
Even after you have completed breast cancer treatment, your doctors will want to watch you closely. It’s very important to go to all of your follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctors will ask if you are having any problems and may do exams and lab tests or imaging tests to look for signs of cancer or treatment side effects.
Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some might only last for a few days or weeks, but others might last a long time. Some side effects might not even show up until years after you have finished treatment. Visits with your doctor are a good time for you to ask questions and talk about any changes or problems you notice or concerns you have.
Your primary care doctor, oncologist or surgeon can help plan your follow-up medical care. At first, your follow-up doctor visits will probably be scheduled for every few months. The longer you have been free of cancer, the less often the appointments are needed. After 5 years, they are typically done about once a year. Follow-up visits may include:
- Medical history and physical exam every 4 to 6 months for the first 5 years, then every 12 months.
- Regular mammograms. If you had breast-conserving surgery, you will get a mammogram about 6 months after surgery and radiation are completed, and then at least every year after that. If you had a mastectomy you will still need to have yearly mammograms on the remaining breast.
- Clinical breast exams every year, as part of your periodic health examination.
- Pelvic exam and Pap smear every 12 months (if you are taking tamoxifen).
- Bone density tests every 1 to 2 years (if you are at high risk of osteoporosis).
Sources:
American Cancer Society, 2022. Living as a Breast Cancer Survivor: Follow-Up Care After Breast Cancer Treatment.
American Cancer Society, 2023. American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer.