Breast cancer surgery is a major surgery, even after the completion of which the patients are required to undergo a rigorous follow-up schedule. A follow-up schedule with a breast cancer doctor in Kolkata depends on many factors, like the nature of the surgery, the presence of hormonal therapy, the stage of cancer when the surgery was conducted, and so on. In this article, we are taking a close dive into the nature of the follow-up schedule after breast cancer surgery.
Usually, the follow-up schedule after the surgery is every few months at first. However, the longer you lead a cancer-free life, the less often you need to attend the follow-up schedule. If you remain free from the clutch of cancer for five years, the follow-ups are typically done about once a year.
If you have undergone breast-conserving surgery, i.e., a lumpectomy or a partial mastectomy, you might need a mammogram about 6-12 months after the surgery. The routine mammogram, then, might be commenced every year after that.
The first mammogram after the surgery sets the tone for every subsequent mammogram, as the former sets a new baseline for the affected breast. The subsequent mammogram reports are compared with this one, helping the breast cancer doctor make assessments about the condition of the breast.
Women with a history of mastectomy (simple, modified, or radial) might not need a regular screening on the side of the operated breast, but they still need mammograms on the unscathed breast. On the contrary, those who have got both of their breasts removed don't usually need a mammogram since there won't be enough breast tissues left for the procedure.
Likewise, the breast cancer surgeon usually advises routine mammograms to the patients of nipple-sparing mastectomy or subcutaneous mastectomy; because some amount of breast tissue could be left behind in these cases.
As long as there are remaining breast tissues after the surgery, there is some amount of risk for the cancer to come back or spread around in the adjacent skin. So, routine screening is always the safest option. So always follow the suggestions of an experienced breast cancer surgeon, as they are the best judge of the nature of screening, depending on your surgery.