Follow-up of patients with early breast cancer: is it time to rewrite the story?
Cet article passe en revue les travaux récents suggérant de modifier les recommandations de suivi des patientes ayant survécu à un cancer du sein de stade précoce
The guidelines for follow-up in breast cancer survivors support only performance of periodic physical examination and annual mammography. However, medical oncologists and primary care physicians routinely recommended both blood tests and non-mammographic imaging tests in asymptomatic patients, leading to an increased anxiety related to false-positive results and higher medical expenses. Recently, advanced imaging technologies have improved sensibility/specificity to detect of metastatic lesions before symptoms arise. Considering the progress made in the treatment of metastatic disease and the rapid evolution of targeted therapy, that requires customization of the strategy according to molecular characteristics of the disease, patients could derive real benefit to early detection of disease recurrence. This hypothesis must be tested in a prospective clinical trial.
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology , article en libre accès, 2013