What is typical in follow ups?

irish4

What is typical in follow ups?

irish4

Hi ladies,

 I was diagnosed in Oct '06 with a 2.5 cm tumor no node involvement (stage IIA).  I had a double mast. and finished my A/C & Taxol chemo in Apr '07 and have been taking Tamoxifen for just over a year.  I alternate follow ups with my oncologist and surgeon every 6 months but they both just do a clinical exam (feeling around) and that's it.  No blood tests, no scans at all.  Is this typical?  Friends who had family go through this are surprised I'm not receiving scans.

RIV54

Hi, irish, I had my last chemo in July, 07. Rt mast with 6 nodes involved. I have blood work every 6 months unless there is a problem and I'm actually having my first bone scan since last one in August, 07. I have to schedule it yet. I'm a little surprised also that you haven't had any blood work done. Maybe you should ask your onc why. Good luck.

BethNY

Some oncologists use tumor markers, but some do not.  Unfortunately, they aren't full proof, and there can be a lot of false positives etc.  However, if you brought up with your oncologist that at your checkups is it possible to have your tumor markers checked, I'm sure your doctor would be fine with it.

There is no need for routine scans unless you present a symptom that requires having a scan.  Studies were done,  where one group of women were routinely checked with scans, and the other group was not.  The results of the study were that the women that were routinely scanned lived shorter lives.  This was in part due to the anxiety and stress that comes along with getting scans and waiting for results.

Also, if a scan picks up a bone met, or you were to have a fall, and possibly break something in your hip, which then showed there were bone mets, the survival statistics do not change.

There are general rules of thumb to follow to help ease fears about when to have something scanned.

The two weeks rule is a great one.,  If you have a persistent pain that is constant and lasts for two weeks, you should put a call out there to your onc for a checkup, and possible bone scan.

Since you had bilaterals, the chance of recurrence in the BREAST area is about 2% for the remainder of your life.  While it can happen, it is not likely.  Therefore, the exams done by the surgeon and oncologist are sufficient... and I'm sure, like the rest of us, you probably find yourself feeling around under your arm while your laying on the couch watching t.v. and don't even realize you're doing it.  And if you are to ever feel anything, you should call your breast surgeon immediately.

It's important to have your checkups. As time goes on, you will graduate to even more space between visits with these doctors- so spreading them out is key.  Seeing the breast surgeon in the summer, and oncologist in the winter etc...

Don't ever be afraid of sounding like a hypochondriac to your doctor either.  If you think something is wrong in your gut, get it checked out- if for nothing more than peace of mind.

It definitely gets easier as more time goes by.

As far as your family and friends asking why they aren't doing more-- I hope this will help you better explain it to them.  The important thing is that you feel good, and are getting back to your new normal, and moving beyond cancer...

When I go for my checkups within two seconds of walking out of the onc's office, every member of my family is calling me asking if everything is okay.  It drives me insane.  I know they love me, so there's not much I can do about it.

lvtwoqlt

My mom's oncologist and surgeon only did the tumor markers after her surgery in 2001. She asked her doctor and he said since you are not having any symptoms and your blood tests are normal, I am not going to subject you to additional tests. If I felt it was necessary, I would do additional tests.

Victorious_One

I too have flipped right out about the lack of scans, blood tests, etc. I was diagnosed at age 37 with stage/grade 1 idc.  I did lumpectomy and radiation, no chemo, and tamoxifen/lupron until recently.  I was told the same things that Beth mentioned, kind of an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type of deal.  I get MRI's once per year and mammograms once per year, which means every 6 months they're checking out my boobs but not any other part of me.  So, it sounds like the no--scans, no-bloodwork guidelines are the rule now with early stage BC.

I wish I had a clue on how to keep the fear at bay...

Best to you!

nash

Ditto on the lack of scans in the absence of symptoms. My onc does pull blood (CBC and chemistry panel) every 3 months, and she does use tumor markers. Also have annual MRI and annual diagnostic digital mammo.