[The follow-up of the cancer patient: how and when?]

Abstract

The medical resources devoted to cancer patient follow-up are growing. However, intensive follow-up is not translated to any significant improvement survival in a majority of patients. A few neoplasias have an effective salvage therapy, and are worth having strict follow-up to diagnose earlier the recurrence. In many tumours, as breast cancer, an early diagnosis of recurrence does not imply an improvement on survival. Tumoral markers are able to detect the presence of tumour cells even before being clinically apparent and are routinely used in the follow-up of tumours; however, they do not seem to improve survival. The cost-benefit relation of multiple revision in cancer patients apparently cured is debated. No general consensus is achieved to define the best tests to follow-up cancer patients. The trend is to minimize the diagnostic tests and to recommend a clinical follow-up with anamnesis and physical exploration.