Table 1: Summary of survey of Canadian follow-up practices for women treated for breast cancer
Fourteen Canadian Breast Centres responded to a questionnaire concerning the details of their follow-up practices. Their replies are summarized as follows:
All centres follow their patients at short intervals for 2 to 5 yr, after which routine visits are carried out annually. 4 centres begin their follow-up visits at 6-mo intervals for 5 yr, after which the interval is increased to yearly for at least 10 yr or indefinitely. The range of planned, fixed visits varies from 9 to 30. The average is approximately 20, which would be every 6 mo for 5 yr, then annually for 10 yr. 3 of the 14 Canadian centres do regular laboratory tests, radiographic examinations and scanning. None of the 14 Canadian centres utilize the tumour marker CA-15-3 for continued surveillance. All centres perform regular mammographic examinations after irradiation of the breast, usually at 12-mo intervals. All centres but 1 carry out mammographic examinations of the contralateral breast annually. One centre performs follow-up mammographic examinations at 24-mo intervals. 11 of 14 Canadian centres utilize more than 1 type of medical personnel for follow-up. This may be a function of necessity imposed by geography rather than intent. 1 centre has nurses involved in follow-up. About half of the Canadian centres tend to schedule follow-up visits more frequently for high-risk patients than for low-risk patients.
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