Follow-up care of breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer survivors may have several medical and psychosocial concerns in follow-up care. Women with a history of breast cancer should be followed for local-regional recurrence or metastatic disease, as well as for the development of a second primary breast cancer in the contralateral breast. Regular follow-up visits can foster an ongoing patient-clinician relationship both to ensure adequate surveillance and so that symptoms of recurrence or complications of therapy will be reported by the patient and addressed promptly. There are multiple possible long-term complications that may arise following breast cancer treatment, many of which may be ameliorated with various therapies. Clinicians can also provide guidance and counseling as well as psychosocial support to patients regarding medical and psychosocial decisions that may be affected by their personal history of breast cancer.