Follow-up medical care

What happens after treatment finishes? 

When your active treatment (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) has ended, your doctor will recommend a plan for follow-up tests and check-ups.

A follow-up plan is based on your individual circumstances and is often shared between your GP and a member of your treating team, such as your medical oncologist or surgeon.

This is often referred to as “shared care”.

Follow-up appointments give you a chance to talk about any side effects of treatment or any physical, emotional and practical issues that you are experiencing and get some advice from your doctor about ways to manage them.

You may be referred to an allied health professional, such as a physiotherapist, to assist with managing side effects of treatment.

A basic care plan usually includes: 

A follow-up care schedule commonly consists of an appointment and tests (mammogram and/or ultrasound) every three to six months from your last treatment date, for the first one to two years, followed by six to twelve monthly after that time.

Between check-ups, it's a good idea to get to know how your breasts look and feel. If you detect anything unusual, make an appointment with your GP right away.

Remember, swelling and scarring after surgery usually settles down after a few months while changes in the breast after radiotherapy can sometimes take up to two years to settle. 

“Check-up stress” 

Having your annual check-up can be unsettling and stressful.

The following strategies may help you deal with check-up stress: