Follow-up care for DMX ??

SherryBW

I had a double mastectomy after my ILC diagnosis and decided against chemo because of an Oncotype score of 11.  Now I'm on Arimidex.  I just had a three month check-up from my oncologist.  They took blood and followed up with me about my meds. 

When I asked her about further care, she said that I would continue to get blood work every visit and a chest x-ray at 6 months!!  Chest x-ray???  That doesn't sound too sophisticated to me, and I'm worried that this care isn't up to par.   I was just wondering what kind of follow-up care are you all receiving?  Do you still go through your breast cancer center for yearly MRI's or what? 

hlya

Hi, Sherry,

What does meds stand for? medication? 

I got a very similar situation as you.  They even never took any blood test for me, no chest x-ray either.  I see my ONC every 6 months and she just exam me by fingers.  She said the MRI can only detect a tumer over 0.5cm,  and for mastecotomy women with flat chest, this size can be detected by fingers as well.  On another hand, my friend told me as MRI is more sensitive than mamogram or ultrasound,  it's also very harmful or even more harmful to your body.  So I stopped asking the question. 

But,  I don't understand why they do x'-ray every 6 months for you?  As far as I know a person can only take 2 X-ray checks  every 12 months,  and if you ever need x-ray for any other reasons,  you will have no quota?

hlya

Hi, Sherry,

What does meds stand for? medication? 

I got a very similar situation as you.  They even never took any blood test for me, no chest x-ray either.  I see my ONC every 6 months and she just exam me by fingers.  She said the MRI can only detect a tumer over 0.5cm,  and for mastecotomy women with flat chest, this size can be detected by fingers as well.  On another hand, my friend told me as MRI is more sensitive than mamogram or ultrasound,  it's also very harmful or even more harmful to your body.  So I stopped asking the question. 

But,  I don't understand why they do x'-ray every 6 months for you?  As far as I know a person can only take 2 X-ray checks  every 12 months,  and if you ever need x-ray for any other reasons,  you will have no quota?

Gitane

 I had a bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction, also, and SLN biopsy on left side. I see the oncologist every 6 months for a clinical exam, discussion about the SE's from treatment (I take Femara and had chemo previously), my blood work is done to check for kidney function, CBC's, and tumor markers.  I have a Zometa infusion every 6 months.  No other scans or x-rays are done.  I see my plastic surgeon every 6 months for an exam.  I don't see my breast surgeon at all.  I never had rads, so no radiation oncologist to see either.

AnacortesGirl

Finally got to the appt last week where my onc said he would start seeing me every 3 months.  Since I had a BMX he said there is no reason for any imaging/scans unless I have a symptom that needs to be investigated.  If he said I needed chest x-rays or any other scans then I would be asking "why?".  I've been scanned up/down/left/right.  But they all were done for a reason that I understood.  Now that I don't have any breasts I can't see any scans as being routine.  I would question the doc.