Follow Up Plans

Umm - not so much!  I see my onc every three months for complete blood work and tumor markers.  Although she doesn't find them terribly reliable, she does look for consistency with the results.  Since they are have been under 10 since my chemo ended, and remain so, should they shoot up to 40,50, or higher, then she would become suspicious and resort to more testing and scans.  Otherwise, any pain someplace for 2 weeks or more, she will consider a "symptom" and test for, otherwise, no scans unless syptomatic. 

Breast Surgeon is every 6 months for mammo of cancer breast and good breast - and an ultra sound after the mammo.  This goes on I believe for 5 years.  From what I have discussed and read from others, this seems to be about the norm.  Hope this helps.

Linda 

Hey Chinablue......I am 4.5 weeks post 32 radiation treatments. I did double mastectomy first. Then did 12 weekly Taxol and 4 tri-weekly FAC. I then went off to radiation. (32 treatments)...I will see my Oncologist on this coming Monday. I was told I will see her once every 3 months for check up and blood work. They say the blood work is tumor markers.....Unsure what that really means. My Onc. said she would scan me every 6 months but she did say that is not standard protocol. I saw my breast surgeon after chemo was done for 6 month follow up checkup. She said no need to see me anymore unless I felt there was some sort of a problem.....Well......I have no boobs maybe that is why that is. I would love to share with you more. I will pm u later....I gotta run n get my kiddos. By the way I was 36 at dx.....

May God Bless Us ALL 

No tumor markers here either that I am aware off. I go and see one of my 4 docs. about every other month. This month I go see the rads. doc. then in May I see Onc. and GP. 

I don't know if this is still current, but in 2005 my docs basically said routine full-body scans post-treatment turn up so many false positives that the anxiety to the patient is not worth the small benefit of maybe finding something real.

In general, it seems like they wait for a symptom to appear and then they test it. Like if you have a bunch of weird new headaches, they'd MRI your brain. Or if you have lung symptoms, you'd get a chest X-ray. But they don't typically just scan your whole body, looking for trouble.

For the first few years post-treatment, I saw my onc every three months. She'd do a very thorough physical exam, checking both breasts and feeling my lymph nodes and liver. She'd also ask me how I was feeling and if anything weird had cropped up.

I'd also have a mammogram on my remaining breast every six months. And it was that mammogram that found my second tumor in my "good" breast in 2007. Now I've had two mastectomies, with implant reconstruction, and I'm doing really well.

I've "graduated" to seeing the onc every six months and it will probably go to annual visits soon. Of course, if anything weird crops up, I can come in earlier than that. The blood work I get generally just checks my liver and kidney function (I think). Maybe that would help show mets or maybe they're monitoring me for long-term damage from chemo.

I'm certain I've never been tested for tumor markers. That seems like something reserved for ladies who have mets. But I'm not sure about that. I get my treatment at the Mayo Clinic, so I'd think they'd be pretty up to date on the protocol to follow after treatment.

I know a lot of women get anxious or depressed at the end of their treatment because they want to keep fighting. But once you've completed your regimen of treatment, it's time to grieve your losses and start healing.

Recovering from treatment will take longer than you think, probably at least six months. So try not to get too impatient and cut yourself some slack. You've just been through a war, and the battleground was your body. Healing is hard work, too.

--CindyMN

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I am 10 months post chemo, and have seen my onc once, 3 months after finishing chemo.  I was supposed to be seen every 3 months, but at that appointment, he changed to to every 6 months.  Not sure why he went from every 3 to every 6 months after only one visit, but it made me nervous.  He also doesn't believe in unnecessary scans, but would give me one if I really wanted it.  I see him next month, and will probably ask for a scan then, I figure one or two scans a year can't hurt.  He doesn't do tumor markers either...or they just don't tell me their doing them??

Cindy

Congrates to your 3 yrs out . We need more sucess stories here....like yours.

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Here's a list of possible questions you may want to ask your onc.

After Treatment Questions to Ask Your Oncologist
1. How often are my follow up visits?
2. Will you do a full panel blood work at each visit?
3. Will you do tumor marker tests? If so, which ones? E.g, CA 15.3, CA27.29 and CEA
4. Will you test my Thyroid level?
5. Will you test my Glucose level?
6. Will you test my Vitamin D3 level?
7. Will you test my Cholesterol level?
8. If you had a lumpectomy, how often will you get a mammogram? Ultrasound? MRI?
9. If you had a mastectomy, can I get a routine MRI?
10. Will you order scans? If so, what kind, eg. PET or CT and how often?
11. Will you order a bone density scan? If so, how long after treatment? Will this be yearly?
12. Are there any clinical trials I should consider to help prevent recurrence?
13. Would you recommend a bisphosphonate (e.g. Zometa) for me? Are there any clinical trials I should consider, eg. S0307?
14. Would you recommend me taking a daily baby aspirin?
15. Are there any supplements you recommend? Any that can prevent recurrent, e.g., turmeric?
16. For neuropathy, is there anything to help me? What about over the counter supplements or prescriptions?
17. Are there any diet recommendations, eg. Anti-inflammation or Mediterranean?
18. What are your exercise recommendations?
19. Any other lifestyle changes to help prevent recurrence?
20. What do I look out for regarding warning signs, eg, for brain, lung and liver? Should I wait a couple of weeks to see if the symptoms persist or can I call immediately?
 

I recently finished my four rounds of TC, and have asked about follow-up care with my onc the last couple of visits.  (I'll be starting rads soon)  My onc, like several of yours, does not do routine scans for the reasons hhfheidi mentioned.  I was puzzled, but went to the tnf website and saw their explanation matched.  My onc will be following me every 3 mos, but it's symptomology that will drive follow-up.  I am interested in the vit D3 stuff, and will follow up with him on that next visit.  I like your list of questions, 123Donna.

I get freaked out periodically.  Today's my birthday, and I'm thinking about life expectancy.  Thinking I will go out and buy a low-fat cookbook. And go for a walk.  Then Ikea

hhfheidi.....wow our diagnosis and stats are very similiar...

I had 4 A/C  12 Tax then Lumpectomy .... almost done with rads.

I've had 31 and have 2 more to go...