BOSTON -- A new study from University of Massachusetts Medical School finds that after initial treatment is over, many breast cancer survivors do not continue getting mammograms, putting themselves at risk for a recurrence.

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported Monday that three years ago, Martha Hesse had a mastectomy to remove a cancerous tumor from her breast. She thought the worst was behind her.

"Then a year later, I went in for my annual mammogram, which I had been good about doing, and another tumor showed up in my other breast, and I was floored. I was really floored," Hesse said.

But now, she's thankful the mammogram found the tumor early. While yearly mammograms are recommended for breast cancer survivors, researchers at University of Massachusetts Medical School find many women are not following screening guidelines.

They looked at 797 breast cancer survivors -- all had health insurance. After the first year of treatment, 80 percent of the women received a screening mammogram. By the end of the fifth year, that number dropped to 63 percent. Only one-third had received a mammogram every year over the five-year period.

"That was a bit surprising to us. People need to be aware of their risks and they need to get mammograms. Physicians need to be aware and encourage their patients to get them regularly," University of Massachusetts Medical School's Dr. Chyke Doubeni said.

Doubeni is the lead author of the study. He said that complacency may be partly to blame -- once the first cancer scare is over, survivors think it won't happen again. For Hesse, fear is a major contributor.

"What's going to come after the finding of the tumor is a very scary thing. If you've been through it once, you know you're in for endless testing, drugs, feeling bad in most cases," Doubeni said.

Researchers found women were most likely to get their annual mammogram when reminded by their doctor. Breast cancer specialist Dr. Kathryn Edmiston said that it's an important part of her job.

"I don't think it matters who is doing that -- whether it's a specialist or their primary care physician or a gynecologist -- but I think someone needs to be there to recommend it every year," Edmiston said.

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Cancer Study