# Follow-up after treatment for early breast cancer

Source: https://onco.cc/protocols/breast-cancer-follow-up-after-treatment/  
OnCo record `breast-cancer-follow-up-after-treatment` (Protocol). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

After treatment for early breast cancer, the main test is a yearly mammogram, usually for 5 years and then through the national screening programme. Routine scans and blood tests are not recommended when you are well, because the evidence does not show they help. You should get a written plan saying who to contact and which symptoms to report.

## Summary

NICE NG101 offers annual mammography for 5 years to everyone who has had or is being treated for breast cancer, including DCIS, and for women continued annually until they enter the national screening programme; no mammography of the soft tissues on the side of a mastectomy; and no routine ultrasound or MRI for surveillance. ASCO (2013) recommends history and physical examination every 3 to 6 months for the first 3 years, every 6 to 12 months in years 4 and 5, and annually after that, with the first post-treatment mammogram 1 year after the initial one and at least 6 months after radiotherapy. Both advise against routine blood tests, tumour markers and body imaging in people without symptoms; the ACS/ASCO survivorship guideline (2016) agrees.

Every person should have an agreed written care plan held by them and their GP, with named professionals, dates for review of adjuvant therapy, the surveillance mammography, symptoms to report and how to reach specialist care quickly (NICE). Primary care follow-up includes healthy lifestyle advice, monitoring for long-term effects of treatment, and support to keep taking endocrine therapy (ACS/ASCO). Bone density checks on aromatase inhibitors and lymphoedema care are covered by their own protocols.

## Fields

- Kind: Protocol
- Last checked: 2026-11-11
- Also known as: breast cancer surveillance; breast cancer follow-up mammogram; follow-up after breast cancer surgery; breast cancer survivorship care
- Tags: protocol; follow-up; survivorship

## Connected records

- cancers: [Breast cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/breast-cancer/)
- fronts: [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- technologies: [Mammography & tomosynthesis](https://onco.cc/technologies/mammography/), [Survivorship care and late-effects surveillance](https://onco.cc/technologies/survivorship-care-plan/)
- institutions: [American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)](https://onco.cc/institutions/asco/), [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence](https://onco.cc/institutions/nice/)
- terms: [Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)](https://onco.cc/terms/dcis/)
- ideas: [Risk-stratified follow-up: low-risk survivors to primary care with fast re-entry](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-acc-risk-stratified-follow-up/)
- protocols: [End of treatment: treatment summary, survivorship care plan and handover to primary care](https://onco.cc/protocols/survivorship-care-plan-and-treatment-summary/), [Lymphoedema after breast cancer: risk reduction, surveillance, early compression and treatment](https://onco.cc/protocols/lymphoedema-risk-reduction-surveillance-and-treatment/)

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