Key points
- Patients will transition back to primary care after finishing treatment for breast cancer.
- Patients will continue to have surveillance screening for several years after treatment.
- Some patients may worry about their risk of recurrence.
Content:
Follow-up care
Once patients have finished active treatment, they will transition to community care with follow-up appointments. Patients should continue to have surveillance screening at the hospital for five years, before they re-enrol with BreastScreen Aotearoa.
Guidelines for surveillance screening and follow-up care can be found in the Management of Early Breast Cancer - Evidence-based Best Practice Guidelines.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ has a survivorship programme, Thriving, for those with early breast cancer in MidCentral DHB. Breast Cancer Foundation NZ also has a booklet available for patients to order after completing active treatment: Thriving After Breast Cancer
Long-term side effects of treatment
Patients may experience long-term side effects from their treatment, including lymphoedema.
