Friday, July 25, 2008

Follow-up after Primary Therapy

A. Most recurrences found by patients, not tests.

B. Routine bone scans, CT scans, chest x-rays are not indicated in patients without symptoms or signs; probably little value in routine blood tests--eg, liver function, tumor markers.

C. Annual mammography is important--new tumors in (either) breast may be curable as well as local breast recurrence after radiation therapy.

D. Suggest interval history and physical exam every 3-6 months.

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