Who schedules after treatment mammogram?

cny46

I am wondering who schedules the first mammogram after surgery and treatments are finished.  Was it your oncologist, surgeon or gynecologist? 

I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow and will ask her then but I just had a call from the surgeons office wanting to schedule that appointment.  I told them that I didn't realize I would be needing to see the surgeon again, I've already had my follow-up appt., but they are saying they follow breast cancer patients for the rest of their lives.  Is this true with all surgeons?  Mine doesn't specialize in breast cancer but is a general surgeon.  I am very confused and would appreciate knowing which of the many doctors are looking after your well being.  Thank you!

Best,

Cathy

Anonymous

Cathy

It is confusing isnt it? I had post cards for EVERY doctors office to do a mammo 3 months after finishing treatment....pcp, gyn, med onco, rad onco, and surgeon.

I think the rad onco is the one who I saw first so that office scheduled the mammo...

I dont think it really matters who schedules it as the results go to all doctors on your file anyway.

Best of luck

Jule

mhm123151

I've been going through the oncologist office with results sent to other doctors

nelia48

Cathy, after I had my drains pulled out, I never went back to the Surgeon and they  never called me again.  Everything has been done through my oncologist -- scans, the setting up of radiation, etc., etc.  I've been surprised on this board as to how many gals seem to use their surgeon as their primary caretaker of their cancer.  I thought the surgeon was just to do the cutting and that was it. 

After my chemo and surgery, my oncologist set up the PET scan for me, and I'm sure later on, he will write the order for the mammogram, bone scans, MRI's etc., when it's time. 

bwbly

My follow-up mammo was scheduled by my radiologist when I finished my radiation, which I had done before chemo.

Anonymous

my oncologist schedules all my tests--mammos. MRIs, US

anne

otter

My breast surgeon's office schedules my post-tx mammograms and follow-up appts with my surgeon to discuss the results and do a clinical exam.   I had one post-tx mammo last summer, 6 months after my mast/SNB.  I think that was early--the radiologist said they normally wait a year after a mastectomy.  My next one will be a year after that first one.

Cathy, I think my breast surgeon plans to follow me for a long time, too.  She is a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer surgery; and she is the director of the "Breast Health Center" at a major university hospital/cancer center.  She does a very thorough breast exam--better than any GYN I've seen.

OTOH, when I saw my onco after my last chemo tx, she offered to schedule my first post-tx mammogram.  I said it had already been scheduled by my surgeon's office.  My onco was fine with that--they work in the same medical center and the records are all kept in the same system.  So, they both have access to the same reports and either one of them can ask for follow-up procedures.  My onco also does a very good breast exam, but her technique (pattern) is a bit different.  I figure between the two of them, if I do develop a new lump, one of them will find it.  My onco said she wants to continue to follow me (currently 2 times a year), especially while I'm on Arimidex.

I don't mind the extra attention.

otter

[I forgot to mention that I had my first post-BC GYN exam a couple weeks ago. It was a local GYN doc I hadn't seen before--not the one who mis-diagnosed my breast lump as "fibrocystic tissue."  His nurse recorded the date of my most recent mammo and the results in the report, but nobody said anything about needing to have them done locally rather than at the Breast Health Center.]

Tamara67646

My surgeon is requesting the follow-up  mammograms and wants to see me every 6 months for 2 years.  My oncologist wants to be copied on the mammogram results and he is seeing me every 3 months and he is the one to order blood work and any other tests, if needed.  My radiation oncologist also wants me to do follow-ups every 6 months and wants copies of the mammogram..  Plus, I still have my annual OB/GYN appt.  I am trying to figure out a schedule where all these appointments are stretched over several months rather than all hitting at the same time.  I feel better thinking that  doctor is doing an exam every few months rather than just relying on my self exams.

Brenda_R

My GP schedules most of my mamms.  She wants to get you in there for your Pap. On the 6 month diagnostic mamm I was able to just call and have them order it.

Last time I had my onc order it since I was there and I got out of a GP appointment and fees.  I'll request them from my Onc from now on. 

I only had 2 follow ups with my surgeon.  He ordered my first pet/ct, and nothing after that.

PattyS

My breast cancer surgeon ordered mine with results going to her and my primary doctor. She wanted me to schedule an appointment with her after I did the mamo which was last week. I still have not scheduled the appointment and debating if I should. I have a yearly physical scheduled with my primary next month and figure he can give me the results. Although right after the mamo they informed me at the time that there was no change to the breast from  last year, I'm thinking why should I pay for two doctors visit? And is there really a need to see the surgeon again or is this another way for them to make money. I also have an appointment with my gynocoligist in two weeks. I'm thinking I should be well covered between the two appts.

MarieKelly

The first mammogram after my lumpectomy in 3/04 (the only treatment I've had) was about 6 months after the surgery.  At that time, they only did the affected left breast because doing both would unnecessarily subject the unaffected right breast to radiation. After that, my yearly bilateral mammograms resumed every February.  Other than the mammogram that diagnosed me in 2/04 after my PCP hounded me to get one done and handed me a script for it, I've never had a physician involved in ordering or scheduling a mammogram. Even that unilateral one that was done 6 months after the lumpectomy was arranged by me...and I never even gave them, nor did they ask for the script. After the lumpectomy, I only saw the breast surgeon once or twice and he told me I should get a left mammogram in about 6 months, so I just called up where I wanted it done and scheduled it myself. The only doctor I've seen since a few months after diagnosis and surgery is my PCP.

In my state, you're allowed to self refer for screening mammograms and I think also breast ultrasounds as well.  At the breast center where I get my yearly mammograms done, they absolutely won't schedule a screening mammo any earlier than exactly one year or more from the date of the previous one because otherwise, insurance won't cover it.  When the patient self refers, the results are mailed to the patient and also the PCP, if the patient has one.

cny46 wrote:"...I told them that I didn't realize I would be needing to see the surgeon again, I've already had my follow-up appt., but they are saying they follow breast cancer patients for the rest of their lives.  Is this true with all surgeons?..." 

No, this is absolutely not true of all surgeons. I would definately question the motives of any surgeons office who told me something like that. My surgeon saw me about 7-10 days after my lumpectomy and again at the 1 month point. After that, I was told to follow up with him only if I had any further need of his services.  Unless you've got some kind of surgical complication or are requiring ongoing surgically related care of some sort, there's no reason you would need to be followed by a surgeon for the rest of your life - nor for that matter, any longer than once you've reached the point of  being surgically healed.  Your primary care doctor, or your oncologist if you have one, are perfectly capable of providing follow up care and will refer you back to a surgeon if it becomes necessary.

klp

After my rad tx were finished I had an appt. with my onco. She then gave me a prescription for Arimidex. I told her I didn't want it but would take Tamoxifen. She gave me that prescription. She also had me go to the breast imaging department and set up an appt. for a mammo for August. And I also scheduled an appt. with the onco in the same month.

juliejfsrj

I see my surgeon twice a year, my radiation oncologist twice a year, and my oncologist every three or four months.  They time it so I constantly am under watch and being checked.  My onc schedules most tests like cts. etc.,  Truthfully, no one has scheduled a mammogram for me.  I've had one since my radiation finished.  I guess it's been nearly a year since I had one.  That scares me, I just realized this.

cny46

This forum is such a wonderful place to go when you are stressed, confused and don't know who to call.  God bless you all. 

My medical oncologist told me that she wants to be my primary caregiver during this journey and will schedule all necessary appointments.  The surgeon wanted me to get in for a mammo next month while my oncologist said that is way too soon for me because I just finished radiation and she wants to wait a few months. 

Nelia48 & MarieKelly  I agree with your opinions of the surgeon, in my situation anyway.  I have privately questioned their motives a couple of times and do not feel comfortable dealing with them.  I think it is important that we have a good and trusting relation with each one of our doctors.  Everything happened so fast that I never had time to breathe let alone take a step back and figure the whole process out!  I just got sucked into this huge whirlwind!

otter - It sounds like you have a wonderful surgical oncologist!

juliejfsrj - I'm sure your caregivers will be scheduling your mammo soon, just please double check!

Thank you everyone so much for your replies, I appreciate all the responses. 

All my best,

Cathy

Jack55ok

My Onc. told me to have my GYN schedule all the mammo's. Now I am a little scared because my mammo's are only scheduled once a year. This Aug. will be the 2nd one I have had since being DX'd in Aug. of 07. It looks like most everyone gets them every 3 months?!

My Onc does do blood marker tests every 3 months. Does this sound right? Let me know girls and thank you!!! 

otter

Jack, I went back and re-read the previous posts, and I can't find anyone who said she is getting post-treatment mammograms every three months.  Some women get their first post-treatment mammo 3 months after their treatment ends.  Mine was at 6 months, which is the recommended time for women who've had a lumpectomy and rads (6 months after rads).  Many women are seeing one or another of their doctors every 3 months.

But, a mammo every 3 months?  No way.

otter 

nelia48

I haven't had a mammogram yet and it's been  a year since my last one.  Just finished treatments, though in April.  I'm thinking that the next time I see my oncologist that he will order one.  But every three months????  I can't see that!

Jack55ok

Otter & Nelia,

thanks your right, I read it incorrectly! I feel better. I go for my 2nd one this August, my first was after treatment last August. I get nervous before the blood tests and the mammo's. I went for my 3 month check up last Monday and had my blood marker test, I have not heard from them so I am happy and assuming all is well.

It is so great to have this board to ask other women questions who share this awful Dx and who understand!

Jackie

Everlastpink

I am on a rotation of all the docs too, so I am always seeing someone.  I see my rads onc and surgeon every 6 mos. and my med onco and primary every 3 mos.  I have been seeing my gyno more often since I am having an oomph tomorrow, so he will probably be in the rotation more often now too for a little while.

My surgeon said to me once, "you are mine forever" kind of as a joke, meaning, she will follow me at least annually.  She gave me the scripts for the mammo and sono in July, which will be 6 mos. after my first surgery (lumpectomy).  It will be the first imaging since then.  I think I will have another 6 mos. after that (1 year anniversary) then annually. But I am to send reports to all the other docs.  My med onco seems to be my "go to" person for everything and she coordinates with the other docs.  My surgeon just wrote the scripts since I happened to be in her office.