Recurrence Surveillance: Build a Tumor-Specific Recheck Calendar

Caregivers transitioning from initial treatment to planned surveillance for local recurrence, regional spread, distant metastasis, late effects, or a second tumor.

Convert pathology, stage, treatment, and the dog’s health into a written calendar of examinations, home observations, laboratory tests, and imaging with a reason for every item.

Collect the final pathology, grade if validated, margins, stage, operative and radiation summaries, systemic-treatment record, baseline images, and late-effect instructions. Ask which recurrence patterns are plausible and which findings would lead to additional treatment versus information only. If instructions conflict, pause and ask the treating clinic to reconcile them; do not choose the instruction that seems easiest.

1. Write separate surveillance goals for the primary site, regional nodes, distant sites, treatment safety, and quality of life.
2. Place physical examinations, laboratory tests, imaging, and specialist visits on one calendar.
3. For each item, record what it is intended to detect and how the result could change care.
4. Use a consistent home observation set linked to the tumor location and treatment field.
5. Transfer prior DICOM images and measurements for valid interval comparison.
6. Review the calendar after any new finding, treatment change, aging-related condition, or shift in family goals.

Primary-site appearance or function, regional swelling, breathing, appetite, weight, pain, mobility, urination, defecation, neurologic signs, treatment late effects, and any new lump. Home monitoring does not replace scheduled examinations. Write observations in neutral terms with date and time. A home log supports clinical decisions but does not authorize a medication change or replace examination, laboratory testing, imaging, or emergency triage.

Call before the planned recheck for a new mass, rapid change, pain, bleeding, discharge, breathing change, neurologic sign, or organ-function change. Emergency red flags require immediate in-person care rather than waiting for surveillance imaging. When urgent transport is advised, bring the current medication list and call ahead if that does not delay departure.