The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different surveillance mammography regimens after the treatment for primary breast cancer: systematic reviews registry database analyses and economic evaluation

There are 45,000 new cases of breast cancer in the UK each year and approximately 25% of women develop a recurrence in the same breast or in the opposite breast. Many of these recurrences are found during the first 3 years after treatment. Recurrent breast cancer might be found by either mammography, clinical examination or by the patient. There is uncertainty about how best to detect a recurrence and about the frequency of follow-up of these women. This study proposes to use data, both from existing research and data already collected on the outcomes of women following treatment for primary breast cancer, to identify the most effective and efficient method of providing surveillance mammography for women who have previously been treated for primary breast cancer. This study will seek to identify how often the surveillance should be offered, whether this procedure is worthwhile, safety (as mammograms involve exposure to X-rays) and efficiency, i.e. balancing the costs of surveillance with the benefits to ensure that our limited health care resources are used in the best way they can.