Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40764879›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2025

Do regularly scheduled visits result in earlier detection of curable breast cancer recurrences?

Ana-Alicia Beltran-Bless, Igor de Lima Machada, Lucas Clemons, Gregory R Pond, Michelle Bradbury, Kelly-Anne Baines, Gail Larocque, Lisa Vandermeer, Marie-France Savard, John Hilton and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Ana-Alicia Beltran-BlessDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Igor de Lima MachadaDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Lucas ClemonsDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Gregory R PondOntario Clinical Oncology Group, Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Michelle BradburyDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Kelly-Anne BainesOttawa Hospital Cancer Centre, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Gail LarocqueOttawa Hospital Cancer Centre, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Lisa VandermeerOttawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada.
Marie-France SavardDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
John HiltonDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Andréanne LeblancDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Mark ClemonsDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. mclemons@toh.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAn important goal of routinely scheduled physical examination in the post-treatment surveillance of patients with early breast cancer (EBC) is to allow for earlier detection of potentially curable recurrences. We present an updated analysis of recurrence detection, and its potential for curative management, at a single-centre survivorship program that follows ASCO recommendations.

methodsPatients with EBC referred to the Wellness Beyond Cancer Program who had breast cancer recurrence between February 2013 and June 2023 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were used to present patient and disease characteristics stratified by type of recurrence and mode of cancer detection.

resultsOf 389 first recurrences, 250 were distant (64.3%), 75 local (19.3%), and 64 (16.5%) contralateral new breast primaries. Distant recurrences were primarily detected via patient-reported symptoms (220/250, 88.0%). 42.7% (32/75) of ipsilateral breast recurrences were detected by patients and 53.3% (40/75) by routine imaging. Contralateral breast primaries were primarily detected by routine imaging 71.9% (46/64) and patient-reported symptoms 25.0% (16/64). 2.1% (8/389) recurrences were detected by healthcare providers, 3 were coincidental intraoperative findings and 1.3% (5/389) were detected by healthcare providers at routinely scheduled follow-up visits. Of the 5 recurrences detected at routinely scheduled follow-up visits, only 0.3% (1/389) was potentially curable.

conclusionDespite following ASCO guidelines, potentially curable recurrences are rarely detected by healthcare providers at routinely scheduled follow-up appointments. Our data suggests that approximately 87,670 follow-up visits were required for healthcare providers to detect one curable recurrence. Updated evidence-based guidelines are required to optimise the post-treatment surveillance procedures.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMiddle AgedAftercareBreast cancer recurrencePost-treatment surveillance

Identifiers

PMID40764879

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.