How to review breast cancer after surgery

  As one of the most common malignant tumors in women today, the incidence of breast cancer remains high and is increasing year by year. With the continuous improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is gradually improving, but still 25-30% of early stage breast cancer patients will have metastasis and recurrence after treatment, therefore, regular follow-up checkups are the key to improve the cure rate. How to review after breast cancer surgery?  Generally speaking, post-operative follow-up of breast cancer should be handled separately according to the patient’s clinical stage, high-risk factors, post-operative treatment, etc. Usually, 2-3 years after surgery is the peak of recurrence and metastasis, and should be followed up every 3 months, 3-5 years after surgery, every 6 months, and 5 years after surgery, it can be followed up every year.  In addition to the routine physical examination by a breast specialist, follow-up examinations include routine blood tests, biochemistry, tumor markers (e.g. carcinoembryonic antigen, glycoantigen-153), immune function (e.g. T-cell subsets), chest X-ray, ultrasound (e.g. abdomen, healthy breast, bilateral axillary lymph nodes, upper and lower clavicle, cervical lymph nodes, uterus, bilateral adnexa, etc.), and mammography (healthy breast). If necessary, a whole-body bone scan, CT or MRI of the head or spine, CT of the chest and abdomen, PET-CT, etc. should be performed. For those taking endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors (Letrozole, etc.), BMD should be tested every six months or annually, depending on the patient’s specific condition. The clinical significance of the test results requires a comprehensive analysis by a breast specialist in conjunction with the patient’s condition and indicators, or a multidisciplinary consultation to determine the diagnosis and treatment plan.