Follow-up Care for DCIS

After surgery and radiation therapy, you and your doctor will work together to develop a plan for your follow-up care. If you had a mastectomy and are undergoing breast reconstruction, you will have a series of office visits to check on your healing. If you are taking tamoxifen or another form of hormonal therapy, this usually continues for a period of about 5 years, so your doctor will want to monitor you throughout that time.

Although follow-up care plans can vary from person to person, your plan is at least likely to include:

• a checkup and physical exam by your doctor every 6 to 12 months for 5 years and then once a year after that
• a mammogram every 12 months and possibly other screening methods depending on your doctor’s recommendations