Follow-up Care
You'll need regular checkups (such as every 3 to 6 months) after treatment for breast cancer. Checkups help ensure that any changes in your health are noted and treated if needed. If you have any health problems between checkups, contact your doctor.
Checkups help detect…
- Breast cancer that comes back after treatment: Breast cancer may return in the breast or chest wall. Or, it may return in any other part of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.
- Health problems that can result from cancer treatment
- A new breast cancer
Checkups usually include an exam of the neck, underarm, chest, and breast areas. Since a new breast cancer may develop, you should have regular mammograms. You probably won't need a mammogram of a reconstructed breast or if you had a mastectomy without reconstruction. Your doctor may order other imaging procedures or lab tests.
You may find it helpful to read the NCI booklet Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment. You may also want to read the NCI fact sheet Follow-up Care After Cancer Treatment.
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