The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has issued its first clinical practice guideline since 2006 on the follow-up and management of patients with breast cancer who have completed primary therapy with curative intent.
The following recommendations were made on behalf of ASCO by James L. Khatcheressian, MD, of the Virginia Cancer Institute in Richmond, and colleagues, and published in Journal of Clinical Oncology:
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Physical examinations should be performed every 3 to 6 months for the first 3 years, every 6 to 12 months for the fourth and fifth years, and annually thereafter.
Women who have undergone breast-conserving surgery should undergo mammography 1 year after the initial mammography and at least 6 months after completion of radiation therapy. Thereafter, unless otherwise indicated, a yearly mammographic evaluation should be performed.
In an otherwise asymptomatic patient with no specific findings on clinical examination, use of complete blood counts, chemistry panels, bone scans, chest radiography, liver ultrasonography, pelvic ultrasonography, computed tomography scans, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 15-3, and CA 27.29) are not recommended. ONA
