Follow-up of breast cancer stages I and II. An analysis of some common methods.
A retrospective analysis of the follow-up methodology was done in 343 cases of breast cancer Stages I and II, in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the explorations performed and the usefulness of the follow-up program. The actuarial probability of relapse at 6 years was 35% for the 237 patients with negative axillary nodes and 46% for the 106 patients with nodal involvement. Fifty-eight per cent of the relapses were detected by the patients themselves, 24% of relapses were found by physical examination and 9% of relapses were discovered in chest radiographs, leading to 91% of relapses diagnosed by combination of these explorations. The authors conclude that follow-up methodology for these patients could be limited to the above-mentioned methods, without significant reduction of curability or survival possibilities after relapse.
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies