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Regular doctor visits For the first three years after being treated for breast cancer, see your doctor or nurse every 3 to 6 months. During the 4th and 5th year after treatment, see your doctor or nurse every 6 to 12 months. After that, see your doctor or nurse once a year. Having these regular check-ups will give your doctor or nurse a chance to check for any signs of returning cancer. After treatment, it's good to have a doctor who is familiar with monitoring patients for cancer recurrence. If your primary care physician takes over monitoring, make sure he or she is in touch with your cancer specialists.

Symptom checks If you notice any symptoms that might signal the return of cancer, tell your doctor or nurse. Symptoms to look for include new lumps in the breast, bone pain, chest pain, belly pain, trouble breathing, or persistent headaches.

Genetic counseling or testing If you are at higher-than-average risk of breast cancer recurrence consider genetic counseling or testing. High-risk groups include women with: Ashkenazi Jewish heritage A personal or family history of ovarian cancer A daughter, sister, or mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 Two or more relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age Breast cancer in both breasts or a relative who had breast cancer in both breasts A male relative with breast cancer

Mammograms After you have been treated, have a mammogram 1 year after the mammogram that led to the diagnosis but no earlier than 6 months after radiation therapy. You may also need other subsequent mammograms, depending on your individual situation. (Note that experts do not recommend breast MRI as a routine part of post-treatment monitoring.)