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Types of Cancer > Breast Cancer > Management of Breast Cancer
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| Post Breast Cancer Treatment |
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While some would assume that the successful treatment of breast cancer would signal the end of the journey, that is a far from accurate perception. It is possible for breast cancer to reoccur after having been successfully treated, and because of that, it is extremely important for breast cancer survivors to take their follow-up medical care seriously.
After your breast cancer treatment, your follow-up appointments will, most likely, be scheduled about every four months. The frequency of these appointments will decrease as the time you have been cancer-free increases. After five years of remaining cancer-free, your follow-up appointments will be scheduled on an annual basis. It is essential that mammograms be performed each year and that monthly self-exams are done as well.
If for any reason your doctor suspects that a recurrence of breast cancer is developing, he or she will order a chest x-ray, a CT scan, a bone scan, blood tests and/or a biopsy in order to determine whether or not cancer is present. If the cancer does recur, your physician can discuss the viable treatment options at that time.
If you are taking any preventative medications, such as tamoxifen, you will need to make sure that you comply with all of the follow-up recommendations made by your doctor in terms of your preventative treatment. For example, patients taking tamoxifen need to schedule a pelvic exam once a year due to the increased risk of uterine cancer while patients taking an aromatase inhibitor will need to schedule bone density tests.
If you did not undergo reconstructive surgery immediately following your breast cancer surgery, you might want to discuss this option with your doctor. Some patients need to wait up to a year before reconstructive breast surgery can be performed. In the meantime, you might want to look at the possibility of breast prostheses. These are artificial breasts that fit into the cup of the bra. Many women choose to use these devices until or instead of breast reconstruction therapy.
The ability to have children is a major concern for many of the women who have successfully recovered from breast cancer. While some cancer therapies can interfere with a woman's fertility, those women who can get pregnant should wait at least two years after successful cancer treatment to do so. This is due to the links between estrogen and breast cancer.
While focusing on the follow-up care and physical aspects of breast cancer is important, it is also important to evaluate the emotional ramifications of the ordeals that a breast cancer patient goes through. Sometimes counseling and/or therapy may be necessary in order to help cope with the feelings that you are experiencing. The majority of women who recover from breast cancer go on to lead healthy, normal, balanced lives.
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| Author: | Robert Dale, Certified Medical Writer |
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| Reviewer: | Jiade Jay Lu, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Radiology (Radiation Oncology) |
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| Publish Date: October 27, 2004 |
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