Monitoring
Monitoring during treatment is important both to determine treatment efficacy and to detect adverse effects. The monitoring process should consider patient preference through shared-decision making.
Monitoring includes imaging studies such as computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, plain films, positron emission tomography scan, blood biomarkers, complete blood count, platelet count, and liver panel, depending on the site of disease. Assessing the number of circulating tumor cells before and after treatment is also performed in some centers to assess treatment response.[193]
Monitoring asymptomatic patients depends on the site of disease. Imaging the area of metastatic disease regularly will determine if the disease is stable or progressing.
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