Breast Cancer: Follow-up and Referral

What to know

The follow-up and referral focus area includes tools and resources to ensure timely referral for diagnostic testing, treatment, and other appropriate next steps (such as genetic testing) when screening tests are abnormal.

A doctor speaking to a patient

Introduction

This page is part of the Breast Cancer Screening Change Package.

You've selected a focus area. Next, select a change concept.
Instructions to navigate this page.

Change concepts are "general notions that are useful for developing more specific strategies for changing a process."1 Change ideas are evidence-based or practice-based "actionable, specific ideas or strategies."1 Each change idea is linked to tools and resources that can be used or adapted to improve cancer screening.

Note: See a list of acronyms used in this change package.

Select a change concept:

Change concept: Establish relationships with specialists for diagnostic testing and treatment.

Change concept: Adopt policies and procedures for patient referral and follow-up for diagnostic testing and treatment.

Change concept: Overcome barriers to follow-up and treatment.

Change concept: Implement follow-up processes for regular screening.

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco Cessation Change Package. US Department of Health and Human Services; 2019.
  • Indicates a patient resource.
  • This resource may contain some information that does not reflect the current US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for breast cancer screening.