Using decision analysis to model cancer surveillance

Cancer management includes surveillance of patients after treatment. Such programs become increasingly important since chances of survival after cancer treatment and, thus, disease-free survival rates are continuing to increase. Surveillance programs are also time-consuming and, in addition, a very expensive component of clinical activity since frequent testing is often involved. The choice of a surveillance program is complex and should ideally consider aspects of survival, quality of life, the burden of surveillance tests, and financial costs. As for all clinical decisions, the choice involves a condition of uncertainty. This uncertainty originates from relationships between diagnostic information and the presence of disease, uncertainty about the effects of early treatment, and ambiguity in clinical information.

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