Watching for cancer return after breast cancer treatment

For the first three years after being treated for breast cancer, see your doctor or nurse every 3 to 6 months. During the 4th and 5th year after treatment, see your doctor or nurse every 6 to 12 months. After that, see your doctor or nurse once a year. Having these regular check-ups will give your doctor or nurse a chance to check for any signs of returning cancer.

After treatment, it's good to have a doctor who is familiar with monitoring patients for cancer recurrence. If your primary care physician takes over monitoring, make sure he or she is in touch with your cancer specialists.

If you are at higher-than-average risk for a second breast cancer, consider genetic counseling or testing. High-risk groups include women with:

• Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
• A personal or family history of ovarian cancer
• A daughter, sister, or mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50
• Two or more relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age
• Breast cancer in both breasts or a relative who had breast cancer in both breasts
• A male relative with breast cancer