What is the routine follow up ?

netrajkr

I had a 6 months follow up last week ..The surgeon just checked clinically ..she didn't asked for mammogram or any other screening..She asked for a mammogram after 1 year..I'm reading some posts which stated that they had a mammograms after 6 months ..

ballet12

The follow-up process is very variable, but according to national guidelines (NCCI), yearly mammo and clinical exam is what is required. Many physicians and facilities do much more, including alternating mammography and MRI every six months. I am only on the yearly mammo schedule, except for when they are following me for something specific (as now they are following new calcifications in the lumpectomy bed). I don't get MRI's at all, but I do get ultrasounds with the yearly mammograms, at my request.

BarredOwl

Hi Netrajkr:

The American Cancer Society and American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) have just published a new Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline.

"The purpose of the American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline is to provide recommendations to assist primary care and other clinicians in the care of female adult survivors of breast cancer."

Full text: http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2015/12/07/J...

There is a link to pdf at upper right.

BarredOwl

CAMommy

I had an appt with the MO at three months and I'm coming up on my first mammo at 6 months. I'll have appointments every 3 months and mammos every 6 months for the first 3 years. Afterwards it goes to mammos every year and I don't know about the appointments with the MO

Annette47

I saw the oncologist every 3 months for a year, now every 6 months as long as I am on Tamoxifen. The radiation oncologist was also every 3 months for the first year, now every 6 months, but I don't know how long that will last - I see him again in April and that will be 3 years since finishing radiation,so .... I saw the breast surgeon and had a mammogram of the cancer side every 6 months for the first 3 years, and if the one I have next week is clear, I will go back to annual mammograms and annual appointments with her for at least 2 more years or “until I get sick of seeing her" .... she said it would be up to me if I want her to be the one to follow me after that or not.

april485

I see one doctor or another every 3 months. I see my MO every six months, I see my BS every six months (with clinical exams at both appts and one yearly mammo) and I see my RO every six months. Alternating, it works out to one every 3 months or so...

My BS is kicking me to the once a year schedule after my next appointment in February. I will see her in beginning of August when I get my Mammo and then every August until the 5 year mark and then not see her again after that. I will see MO every 6 months until I am no longer taking an AI (which could be 5 years or ten (shuddering at the thought of 10) depending) I will see my RO every six months for five years and then again at 10 years (was in a clinical trial so she will check me again at 10 years for cosmetic reasons) and then I will just see my PCP and gyno.

BLinthedesert

I saw either my radiation oncologist or my surgeon every 3 months for the first year, then my surgeon discharged me, and now I see my RO every 6 months. I was alternating MRI and mammogram every 6 months (primarily because they were following something suspicious in my "good" breast). Now I am only having a diagnostic mammogram every year - my RO wants to have a 3D-mammogram this year, because mammogram is not as sensitive for people like me with dense breasts -- and because mammography did not pick up my original DCIS (my presented as a lump). My RO does a thorough breast exam every 6 months.

I am happy with this course of follow-up. I trust my RO.

Nurseworks

Hi there. I just had my 6 months follow- up with my surgeon and 3 mo f/u with my oncologist. Both recommended a mammogram no earlier than 6 months after completion of radiation and then yearly from then on. A f/up every 6 mo with my GP for the first 2 years to specifically assess the affected breast, arm, surgical scar and any symptoms which could indicate a recurrence. My f/u plan of care was specifically structured with recommendation on which actions to take depending on the findings at these visits. I feel safe knowing my GP has standard guidelines to follows. Mammo results are to be shared with the surgeon who did the initial breast surgery. Hope this helps

BLinthedesert

I get yearly diagnostic mammograms (diagnostic mammograms are a little different from screening mammograms as they take more views) with optional ultrasound. I was receiving 6 month MRIs for another suspicious lesion, but we are done with that (thank goodness). I also see my RO every six months - for the first year I alternated between my BS and RO every 6 months, but I was discharged from my BS care last year. My RO said I will be seeing her every 6 months forever. Note that if you have a MO then they might provide your follow-up care - or discharge you to your PCP/GP; if you had DCIS and are not receiving Tamoxifen then you would not have a MO.

Best wishes for uneventful follow-up!

Scsa

I had a lumpectomy in November. I have a 6 month follow up mammogram and MRI scheduled in May, as well as an appointment with my breast surgeon. I did not have radiation and am currently taking tamoxifen.