Preventive Tests For The Future

Cindymb

Hi friends🤗

My lumpectomy is scheduled for July. Thinking ahead, what is the norm regarding the kinds of tests we get in future years? Mammograms only? (I hope not), US, MRI? How often? Every 6 months or yearly? Im wondering if its up to the insurance also. I want to do anything proactive that i can to avoid going through this again.

edwards750

Cindy - not everyone gets the same tests. A lot depends on what kind of BC you have, stage, grade, etc and what your doctor orders.

Initially I saw my MO every 6 months. After a few years it was once a year. I never had tumor marker tests, a MRI or any scans. However, I know a lot of women who had all those tests on a regular basis.

Idk about insurance either. I’m sure that depends on who your carrier is and what the tests are. I never had a problem with BC/BS paying for mine.,

That’s good you are being proactive but I think you just have to wait and see.

Diane

Ingerp

Typical is to get a mammogram plus follow-up with BS, MO, and RO every six months for five years. No US or MRI unless something shows up on the mammo.

Cindymb

My tumor didnt appear on the mammogram so i hope they will allow at least yearly US. I will discuss it with my doctors. Thank you ladies 🤗

MiCyn

Cindy.. I just had breast MRI last week..My MO ordered it. I was told after dx mammo it looked like fibroadenoma, according to radiologist.. When I went to BS for recheck, she mentioned mammo in 6 months. Last week when my RO called & postponed rads due to high OncoDx, he mentioned from now on I will be monitored with Mri.Not sure if that means both or what.The MRI does give me a sense of relief. I think you will have more clarity about it once you have surgery, and your Dr's know exactly what results show. I get my Ct scan, MRI results tomorrow...Nervous Nellie here! 🤗Cyn ..

Billb464

hi, just wanted to wish you luck on your surgery! Also, I found my lump and the doctors couldn’t ever feel it plus my mamagram didn’t even show it, do to dense breast tissue. ( we even put a marker on it for the mamagram. Due to me being adamant that there was a lump , they called me back in for a us, and it showed the mass plus 2 lymph nodes. B4 I had my biopsy, we tried the new 3 d mamagram just to see if it would show up there, and it did! That might be a option down the road for you instead. I didn’t have any of the oncotype test due the lumph nodes. We did decide to get a MRI, on both breasts, plus chest wall. I also did do chemo 1st to help shrink the tumor. I go back every 6 months (5 years)to BS for alternating MRI/US. I will Not get a mamagram again unless it is3d

Runrcrb

Cindymd,

Follow up does depend on what your final pathology shows after your lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Feel confident in having very frank conversations with your doctors. Keep a list of questions and ask them often. I’m two years out from diagnosis and will be asking my oncologist about her monitoring plans next week when i see her. I’ve been seeing her every 3 months and will switch to six months. Unlike others, I don’t see my breast surgeon or my radiation oncologist anymore. I will see my plastic surgeon next week too for planning on a few follow ups.

I get an annual mammogram on my left breast.