Active surveillance is usually the first approach to treat people who are newly diagnosed with DF. This is sometimes known as a ‘watch and wait’ policy, ‘active monitoring’ or ‘active observation’. It means that the DF is monitored by the medical team at 3 monthly intervals for usually the first 2 years.
You may be on active surveillance for a shorter or longer time depending on your individual circumstances. If your condition stabilises or regresses, active surveillance will continue. If your condition progresses, then other treatment options will be considered for you.
We know that people find active surveillance difficult to understand and would rather just have their lump operated on and removed as soon as it is diagnosed. However,
work done internationally
bringing doctors together that care for people with DF has recommended that active surveillance is key to understanding the nature of someone’s DF. We know that for some people having surgery can exacerbate the tumour process and if removed it can be more aggressive when it returns, we know for others that if you don’t have any treatment, it can get smaller.
There are useful treatments for DF that can help manage the symptoms of the disease, or make the DF dormant and less active. They come with some side effects so balancing the use of them is important. It is important to use them only if the symptoms are impacting your quality of life..
Treatment Information