Should I be given scans in UK?

debski

Should I be given scans in UK?

debski

Hi- this is a great site but it leaves me a little concerned.  You all (in the US) seem to get much more info from your doctors- all I know is that I had grade 3, 2.4 cm, not in lymph and that I need herceptin and tamoxifen.

You all seem to have scans- I have never been offered them.  Is it because they are not worried that it has spread or is it money saving (we have a National Health system).  Are you over treated because of the insurance situation? Should I be pushing for similar treatment?

Only got one herceptin left- thank goodness.

Love to all-Debbie

sam52

Well it's a bit of both, Debbie;

I did not get routine scans either - they only seem to scan here if you present with some symptom (eg pain).

But, yes, the good old NHS won't pay for many things here, which I believe is why our stats are worse than in US, and just about the worst in the whole of Europe.Lots of procedures and drugs are deemed not to be 'cost-effective'. How nice to realise that our lives are not worth very much here.

Sorry to sound so cynical, but it is the reality.

Glad you have nearly finished herceptin.

All the best,

Sam

mimi1030

Hello Debbie,

I know all about the NHS, my mom and I are originally from the UK myself but live in the US.  I have experienced both health systems.  I think for the most part it is because they don't want to spend money on the scans.  Here in the US they will scan you for anything because they get paid for it.  The better your insurance here the more you can get done.  Also it depends too on the necessity also.  My mom is stage 4 so she has to be scanned every 3 months to see how her chemo is going. 

It sounds to me by what you have said you are in the stage 2 category, Grade 3 (high grade) and because you were told to take Herceptin and Tamixifen you must be triple positive.  Which  means you have Estrogen and progesterone receptors in your type of cancer, and you also over express the Her2neu oncogene, which is the reason for herceptin. 

My mon initially started out at Stage 1, 4 years ago, she had no lymph involvement either.  She was scanned once after her initial diagnosis, it was by chance 4 years later we found the metestatic disease.

You didn't say if they put you on chemo, my mom had chemo on the first diagnosis because she is Her2 positive, like yourself.  Her2 positive cancers are more aggressive than ER/PR positive, which you have all three so that is a step up too.  But lots of things available to throw at the cancer.  I would at least ask for a follow-up full body scan once in a while to be sure nothing has gotten out through the blood stream.  That is how my mom's got out, as my mom's lymph nodes were clear but it still spread.

If you have to, go to another doctor, maybe a nearby cancer center and ask them for a scan to be sure you are clear in all areas.

You found the best place for info right here.

Take Care,

Michelle