THE EFFECTIVE USE OF POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSTIC FOLLOW-UP METHODS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy effecting women today. Recently, clinical trials have established the roles of conservative surgery, radiation, and adjuvant chemo/hormonal therapy in the primary therapy of breast cancer. Another important issue is the follow-up of breast cancer patients following primary therapy. In this study, we reviewed follow-up records of 255 breast cancer patients who underwent surgical therapy in our surgical oncology department. These patients were evaluated by age, gender, stage, local recurrence, contralateral primary breast cancer, distant metastasis and cost of follow-up methods. Mean follow-up time was 49 months (range 6 to 76 months). In 11 (%4.31) of 255 patients, local recurrence was determined. 72.7 percent of them were symptomatic and all of the local recurrences were detected by physical examination. However, 64.7 percent of patients who had distant metastasis were smyptomatic. Following standard follow-up protocol, total of 14.000 tests were utilized in 255 patients of which only 58 revealed pathologic findings. Our findings have supported the follow-up of breast cancer patients with history and physical examination that has been suggested in recent years. Different follow-up programs should be tailored according to stage and prognostic factors. However, history, physical examination and mammography should be standard follow-up methods.