Which tests are to be taken after completion of surgery, chemo and radiation for avoiding recurrence

[kontak]

My sister has completed radiation and hormone therapy will be started. In routine which tests are to be conducted and their frequency.

Any precautions to be taken in routine

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

No routine tests as such.

Visit your oncologist every three months for the first two years and six monthly thereafter. No specific tests to be done. Mammography to be done once a year or so. During the visits, your oncologist will ask you about your health and if need be, may advise some tests. As a routine, no tests need to be done.

[Hidden in reply to sumeet_shah]

helli sir. Are these visits of first two years aimed for local recurrence? and why it is said that in first two years chances of recurrence are more?

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Yes, Rana. The maximum chances of recurrence is in the first two years. Hence, we meet every 3 months, for the first two years, then we make it every six months, for the next three years (that makes it five years) and then we meet only once a year.

[kontak TeamBCI]

Thanks doctor. Having the same doubts which Rana is asking

[shirdi]

I also think same as rana and am afraid of recurrance .

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

asco.org/institute-quality/...

Read the above. I am sure it will help. These are guidelines from ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology), for follow up protocol in breast cancer. Though there is a bit of medical terminology involved, I am very sure, you will find it easy to read and understand. If you get confused, read only the 'Recommendation' part

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

I will make a follow up chart for you for next five years, based on ASCO guidelines and in the Excel sheet they have provided and send it across to you. you can then take a printout of the same. It will be very helpful to you. Please provide me the following info:

Month of detection:

Month of first mammography:

Month of surgery:

Month of completion of chemotherapy:

Month of completion of Radiation therapy:

[Hidden in reply to sumeet_shah]

Thanks a lot doctor.In my case there was no mammography or pet it was mri mammography. is that reports the same for this analysis.also i hv doubt for the difference in detection month and mammography because these will be the same month.

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Doesn't matter. Just tell me the month of your surgery, month of completion of chemo and month of completion of radiation.

[Hidden in reply to sumeet_shah]

thanks a lot doctor.

month of. detection: may 2013

month of mammography may 2013

month of surgery may 2013

month of completing chemo october2013

month of completing radiation will be november 2013

[shirdi]

Thanks Dr. Sumeet

My cancer was first detected in Feb 2013

No Mammography was done but pet scan was done in Feb 2013

Last surgery in April 2013

Chemo completed in July 2013

Radiation completed in Sept 2013

Ur chart will be very helpful to all of us and all our doubts will be cleared

thanks a lot

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

I have sent across the chart to a few of you.

I will explain what all things mean. First and foremost, this chart is from ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology), freely available on their website. For the first two years, the visits to doctor are three monthly. H and P means History and Physical Examination. This is the most important thing, as it is for your oncologist to decide whether you need to undergo any tests. And mammography should be done once in a year. Read all the instructions below, and you will clearly see that no tests are required as a routine. Since the months and years of follow up are mentioned, if you have this chart, it becomes easy to see when is the next time to visit your oncologist.

Download it and take a printout. Keep it in your file. Keep on tick marking the visits as and when they happen.

I give this routinely to all my patients. Also, I give a chart of Adjuvant Online too, to those who can understand it. Have you seen an Adjuvant Online chart?

[Hidden in reply to sumeet_shah]

thanks a lot doctor.

[shirdi]

Thanks a lot Dr. Sumeet. It will really help us a lot

[kontak TeamBCI]

Thanks doctor this will be helpful. Doctor not seen an Adjuvant online chart. Pl guide for the same

[laya]

thanks dr.sumeet

month of. detection: july 2013

month of mammography july 2013

month of surgery august 2013

month of completing chemo feb2014

month of completing radiation will be march 2014

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to laya]

Laya, I will surely make the chart for you too. I would suggest, you complete the chemotherapy first, at least. Because, occasionally, the chemo sessions get delayed and then the dates may change. So when your chemo is getting over, please do let me know and I will do the needful. I will also explain an Adjuvant Online prognosis sheet (in a separate sheet) and make one for all of you. I am working out, to create a new post, separately, for the follow up charts and Adjuvant Online charts. Shall keep you all updated.

[laya]

thanks a lot doctor...i will keep you informed....

[vkg13]

dr. please guide me for follow up

month of. first detection: apr 2010 , surgery(lumpectomy) , tumor may be benign

month of second detection Jun 2013

month of second surgery (BC) : Jun 2013

month of completing chemo 19 nov 2013

month of completing radiation is 24 jan 2014

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to vkg13]

Sure, I will pass it on to you, vkg13. Either you can SMS (or Whatsapp) me you email address on my mobile no or you can send it across on my email add. You will find my contact details here: breastcancerindia.net/conta...

[manish_vkg TeamBCI]

Dr. I would like to request you, please guide me for follow up plan for my wife and i would like to know which test need to be done on each followup.

Month of detection:Sep'13

Month of first mammography: 11-sep-13

Month of surgery:9-dec-13

Month of completion of chemotherapy:8-oct-13 to 17-feb-14

Month of completion of Radiation therapy: will finish on 5th april'14

I have seen that her dr. Generally calling after 10days of radiation for so many test then calling again after 15 days and then start normal followup i don't understand why.

Her PET-CT done before the starting the treatment so now whats the best time to do the PET-CT scan.