AFTER RADIATION

Irishred, are you on tamoxifen or an AI? Since I'm on tamox my med onc says he'll be seeing me every 3 months. I don't know what the protocol is as far as frequency of checks otherwise, nor do I know what it is where you are. I do know that some oncs order all kinds of scans and some wait for symptoms. I guess this is just something you'll have to ask the med onc.

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!FINISHING RADS SOON!!!!!!!!!!!

Leah

Congrats on almost finishing RADS!  

Here is my care plan:  My surgeon referred me to both a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist.  I saw both about one month post lumpectomy.  The med onc said "come back when you finish RADS."  The rad onc saw me all through radiation and then 2 months later for follow up. On that visit he ordered a mammogram to be done at 6 months post surgery, which was yesterday. He will see me again in three months.  I will have mammograms every 6 months for 2 years he says.  I now consider my med onc my primary cancer doctor.  I saw her a week after RADS finished, she did blood work, tumor markers, and Rx'd Arimidex.  I will see her every three months for 2 years, no pet scans etc unless problems arise.

I don't see my surgeon at all unless I think I need to.  My plan is to wean myself off of my radiologist after the first of the year and just follow up with the med onc regularly.  I don't think I need duplicate Dr visits and the med onc can order mammograms.  I'll go back to the rad onc if the med onc thinks I need to but I don't foresee that.

Hugs,

Pam 

would anyone address the subject of breast shrinkage after completing RADS? PLEASE- wish I would just finally know that answers to all my questions , they feel endless!

Hi Leah and others,

I am in Israel also but I have 4 more weeks until I finish the radiation treatment. I am at Rambam and I find them very courteous and caring which is good because I am finding this radiation treatment exhausting. I guess I should get my medical documents out and write in my diagnosis.

I was the most tired a month or two after radiation.  I don't know if everything just caught up with me or what, but I was exhausted!  It does get better.  Exercising helps, although it's probably the last thing you feel like doing.

Sorry to hear that the Hadassah staff are less than kind.  The whole experience is so frustrating and humiliating as it is without having insensitive staff.  I am in the north so for me it is a 45 minute trip.  Only a week and a half to go.  Next week I start the boosts.  I feel like such a blob though.  Even for short walks I have not the energy nor the desire.  How does one motivate oneself?