Principles of follow-up assessments in patients with breast cancer after radical treatment.

A follow-up assessment plan after radical treatment is a part of a comprehensive approach to treating patients with breast cancer. Because breast cancer is the most frequent cancer both worldwide and in Poland, adequate follow-up is important not only for patients but also for economic reasons. Herein, we review current recommendations for follow-up assessments in patients with breast cancer. The main aim of such assessment is detection of early recurrence or tumor presence in the other breast, observation of long-term treatment complications, and creation of multidisciplinary infrastructure that will allow to reduce the risk of recurrence and alleviate physical, mental, and social consequences of treatment.