A 45-year-old premenopausal woman undergoes a left breast lumpectomy for a 1.5 cm, lymph node positive, hormone sensitive invasive breast cancer. She receives chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and is on tamoxifen. Recommended follow-up after therapy should always include:
Follow-up after breast cancer treatment is very variable. There is no consensus and no follow-up test has shown a survival advantage. Routine 3-6-month clinical examinations and yearly mammography should always be performed. The use of tumor markers such as a CA15-3has not shown any proven significant value and may lead to unnecessary worry.
Blood tumor markers drawn every 3-6 months after treatment.
Routine monitoring of liver function tests (LFTs) every 3-6 months after treatment.
Yearly bone scans.
Routine clinical examination every 3-6 months for the first 5 years after treatment as well as continued yearly mammography.
Breast