Question re: scans after treatment ends..

This is such a great question.  My experience is this:  i had 3 month appts with my oncologist where she did blood work and tumor markers.  she also did chest CT/belly CT once a year.i think partly because of my anxiety. hah  i also believe that if relapse is caught early..and it is "small" i would have a better chance to manage it(or get rid of it) then if it is totally out of control.  another issue was brought to my attention by my surgeon. he talked about the farther you are out from chemo...the better especially if you need more chemo.  it seemed liked it would be more effective..the farther out you were...and you want to use the "big guns" if you relapse...he said,,"you might not want to use "big guns" on a small tumor...rather..look at other options..like hormone...or rads.  anyway,  that kinda made sense to me at the time.  after two years out; i only had mammo and breast MRI (every 6 months) and only an xray or scan if i had issues. i did have 4 broken ribs (from rads...) which caused a lot of craziness because they had to rule out mets....but i was clear. so, pretty much starting from 3 years-4 all i have had is blood work and breast scans.  instead of a breast mri that would be coming up; my doc ordered an ultrasound of my breasts..and 6 months later i will have mammo.

i think our follow up is related to our own personal issues..side effects...pains..etc.  i am really comfortable now to see the oncologist every 6 months for blood work and no scans.  my doc also told me that the stuff they inject you with ..over a period of time..and lots of scans..is bad for your kidneys.  additionally, i think they just came out with the radiation from CT scans is not good for us.  the only time i have a PET is when they think there could be a relapse...(like my broken ribs) otherwise no.  i had bone scan also because of the broken ribs. 

for me, the 2 week pain problem is when i would call and go and see my doc.  otherwise; i pretty much just do the 6 month appts.  if i relapse..i will deal with it then...and look at my options.  there is local reoccurance..or a new cancer in other breast..etc...and then there are mets.  being aware of your body..after treatment is also an adjustment. it is all hard. and i have found myself changing over the years in how i look at it and how i deal with it. 

sorry so long winded here. hope something here has helped a little. i think there is a balance that can be found .

diana50

Diane-what baseline scans did you have?

ihvloves-What scans did you have when you were first diagnosed?

Stage III ILC, finished treatment September 2006 (Hello, TAC sister Karen!).  Have alternating mammogram/ultrasound and MRI every 6 months, and see my breast surgeon after each.  See my oncologist every 4 months or so.  Taking Femara as I became menopausal as soon as I started chemo.  No scans, no blood work, by mutual consent of my oncologist and me.  It's hard for me to say here, and I know there are many views about this, but it is not clear that early detection of mets prolongs survival.  All we can know is the time of survival once mets are detected. We can't know time of survival from when there ARE mets.  I am just giving my way of thinking about it.  As long as I do not have symptoms, feel well, and do what I can (take the Femara, as I am er/pr postive) then I am happy to get on with my life every day.  Leigh