Survivorship

Those who have gone through cancer treatment describe it as a time of change followed by a need to find "a new normal." Your "new normal" in the first few months may include making changes in your activities, exercise, diet, personal hygiene, and sources of support.

Once you have completed treatment, you will continue with follow-up visits and screening tests. Ask your health care team who will monitor your care after treatment. It may be your oncologist, your medical doctor, or both.

Get the schedule for follow-up tests. These may be done every 3, 6, or 12 months. The following may all be part of your ongoing treatment plan:

• Breast self-exams
• Mammograms
• Pelvic exams
• Bone density scans

Mammography After Surgery

Did you have a lumpectomy? If so, you have a partial mastectomy, you should have a mammogram of the affected breast within 1 year after completing treatment. Radiation and chemo can change the way your breasts look on mammograms. The radiologist will use this image to compare with any future images.

Did you have a mastectomy? If so, mammograms are not needed after surgery.

See the Treatment Summary and Survivorship Plan.