Treatment Surveillance
Monitoring the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment is essential during and after the treatment process. Every patient should have a personalized surveillance plan. Regardless of the treatment path chosen, there are standard tests that are commonly used to assess the progress and success of any treatment. Breast MRI, tumor marker blood tests and physical breast exams are the most common with Petscans and bone scans also entering the mix. There maybe more or different tests that your medical team recommends or that you may want. Ask for tests you want if the are not suggested or offered!
The most effective surveillance is regular check-ups every 3 to 6 months, tailored to each patient’s unique response to treatment. By staying vigilant and committed to this personalized surveillance, women can ensure the greatest chance for their success and peace of mind. Whether it’s been months or years since the original treatment or recurrence, ongoing monitoring empowers women to catch any changes early and continue on the path to wellness with confidence and strength.”
The reality for breast cancer patients is that on going monitoring for the rest of her life is needed and it can be challenging. With breast cancer recurrence rates at 30-50%, creating a sustainable and minimally intrusive plan is vital for reclaiming and maintaining good health. Breast cancer may be relentless, but you can be even more determined with a vigilant plan that keeps it under control. Early detection is a powerful tool that gives you the upper hand! Figuring out how to embrace this part of your journey will empower you with strength and resilience, and you will know that every step forward is a step toward a brighter, healthier future for yourself.
BCA passionately encourages every breast cancer patient to craft a personalized, ‘life-doable’ monitoring plan in collaboration with their doctors. This proactive approach not only empowers you but also provides peace of mind and control over this dreadful disease. A solid treatment and surveillance plan is your cornerstone for reclaiming your life. Take charge by creating your own plan for yourself – and turn these challenges into opportunities. Lean in – you have the power to transform this into a testament of your courage and spirit!
We aren’t saying making these lifestyle changes will be easy, we ARE saying It will be worth it! These changes can literally save your life and prevent breast cancer in your family members!
Reading Reports
You will also need to refresh your memory with Understanding Your Reports. And you can always book a Private Consult to go over them with you at any time.
You will need many different tests on a regular basis:
Breast Imaging:
Mammogram if you had a Lumpectomy and still have breast tissue.
MRI if you had a Mastectomy.
*** Special Note
BCA always recommends all women have a Breast MRI for follow up imaging over Mammograms because they are 99% accurate for breast cancer and avoids multiple return visits for more imaging – you get all the correct information in the first test – MRI. Why not just have the most accurate test the first time? If your Mammogram presents with suspicious finding the doctor will then send you for an MRI – so it seems silly to waste that time & energy, not to mention the added stress of not knowing what’s really on your imaging, and Mammograms don’t detect Invasive Lobular Cancer until it is very very large.
NOTE: This is what happened to Our BossLady Roxann. Her tumor at Mastectomy was 10.5cm! Don’t let this happen to you.
Blood tests
Tumor Marker Blood Tests
Tumor marker tests for breast cancer are used for surveillance and detecting recurrence, not diagnosis, due to their limited reliability. When combined with other tests like breast MRI, after a confirmed cancer diagnosis, they more accurately monitor treatment effectiveness and recurrence.
Breast Cancer Tumor Marker Tests
A cancer monitoring doctor, typically a Medical Oncologist for Standard Care Treatment or an Integrative Medicine, Functional Medicine, or Private Practice doctor for Off-Label, Alternative, or Combination Treatment, will order specific breast cancer blood tests every 3 months, alongside general health blood tests.
Quality Surveillance
Comprehensive cancer monitoring, which includes advanced imaging, general health blood tests, age-specific screenings, and fitness assessments, empowers doctors with a precise understanding of treatment effectiveness. This holistic approach enables the early detection of cancer recurrence, allowing for timely adjustments to treatment plans. By staying vigilant, we can maintain control over breast cancer and enhance patient outcomes..
Remember, any of these tests might show abnormal results for non-cancer reasons. It’s crucial to consider your overall health and trends over time.
Don’t worry if one or two tests are a bit off. Effective cancer treatment can be a gradual process, although sometimes it will be fairly quickly. Tests are typically repeated every 3-6 months, and long-term results are used to evaluate treatment effectiveness and make necessary adjustments to achieve remission.
If you have a Recurrence, you may need to start the treatment cycle over again or you may need a pivot. The earlier you catch a recurrence, the better your chances to quash the new cancer growth.
If your cancer Metastasizes, it is crucial to change your treatment plan to walk the cancer back into remission. This might be the time for a BCA Private Consult with Roxann, book on her calendar today.
Empower Yourself Now!
More Resources
Emotional Support is critical to your healing. Even if everything goes smoothly with your treatment a cancer diagnosis is stressful. Reach out to your support network to help you emotionally on a regular basis. And use Duality to fill in the gaps!
References
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), Provides guidelines for breast cancer surveillance, including recommendations for follow-up imaging, recurrence monitoring, and survivorship care.
- Surviving Breast Cancer, Explains breast cancer surveillance and recurrence risks, detailing monitoring strategies,
- BMC Cancer, Reviews personalized surveillance and aftercare for non-metastasized breast cancer, discussing risk-based follow-up strategies and patient-centered care models.
- BreastCancer.org, Discusses breast cancer surveillance, explaining how imaging, blood tests, and symptom tracking help detect recurrence early.