Breast Cancer Survivor Testing Guidelines Changed

Women who have battled breast cancer and won may have good news awaiting them at the doctor’s office. Two major cancer groups have recently changed their guidelines for follow-up screenings after cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology have both recommended less rigid follow-up routines for breast cancer survivors. Rather than require regular MRI exams and lab tests, the organizations say routine mammograms and physical exams suffice. The exceptions arise when symptoms indicate a possible return of cancer.

The new recommendations were based on the analysis of nearly 240 previous studies related to breast cancer survivorship. While extra caution is required for breast cancer survivors, the analysis indicated that an overabundance of testing doesn’t produce a benefit in regard to survival rate. It does, however, open up survivors to a greater likelihood of false positives and the potential for more invasive testing. The new guidelines also recommend continued endocrine therapy for survivors for at least five years after treatment, if not 10.

An estimated 246,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. While the overall survival rate is quite high for this form of the disease, about 40,000 American women do die from it each year. With that in mind, women are encouraged to report for routine exams in their younger years and annual mammograms starting around the age of 40. Early detection and treatment of this disease can greatly enhance likely survival rates. Women will find when breast cancer is detected early, a number of treatment options may be available to them, as well.

Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are urged to discuss all treatment options with their healthcare providers. For those who have undergone treatment, the best route for follow-up testing will also be based on personal healthcare provider recommendations. Personal risk factors for recurrence may, for example, indicate the need for more aggressive routine testing.

About Author

Choice Cancer Care is an independent, physician-owned cancer center network. Dr. Gregory Echt, a radiation oncologist with over two decades of experience, is the founder of Choice Cancer Care. Choice Cancer Care is among the busiest practices in the country for brachytherapy, or prostate seed implant therapy – a cancer treatment plan for prostate cancer that provides remarkable success rates and fewer life-limiting side effects.

North Texas based Choice Cancer Care is a physician-owned cancer treatment center. Dr. Gregory Echt, a radiation oncologist specializes in the most highly sophisticated methods of chemotherapy and radiation therapy available today.