No scans after tx is done??!!

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Twinmom77
Twinmom77 Member Posts: 303
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
No scans after tx is done??!!
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  • Twinmom77
    Twinmom77 Member Posts: 303
    edited July 2010

    During my last visit to the onc, I asked what I could expect after I am done with Herceptin on July 21st (YAY!)  She said I'll come in every three months for a checkup and they'll get my blood drawn every six months.  I asked about CT/PET scans or MRIs and she said it wouldn't be necessary.  I feel like this isn't much follow up.  It makes me super nervous.  How on earth would they catch a recurrence if there happened to be one in the six months in between blood draws? And wouldn't some type of scan tell more than a blood check? Could anyone share with me what you and your docs plan is for after tx?  Thanks!

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  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited July 2010

    Well, Twinmom77~

    I am not much help as that is the same thing they said to me!   I will be done with Herceptin in December and they have told me no scans unless I have pain in some area during my life.  It makes me very nervous also.  My onc. said they do not want to do extra radiation etc.  I just do not want to play the waiting game all my life.

    (I have twins that are 13...)

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited July 2010

    My onc doesn't do routine scans either.  There is no evidence that they can find metastatic cancer any faster with a scan than when you become symptomatic, I guess.  It won't find individual cells, it only finds it when it gets a toe-hold.  He also says that there are too many false positives.

    He does look for tumor markers in the blood.  He says that they arent always accurate but they are better than nothing.  I believe the tests are the CA 27-29 and CA 17  He will not start them with me until I am finished with herceptin, which won't be until December.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    I probably am one of those who would have benefitted from one of the scans mentioned.  I was told by my oncologist that a cat scan is equivalent to more than 200 x rays.  He is not a fan of CT and Pet scans.  He recommends them after a new diagnosis, to find mets, or to do the staging.

    Congratulations on finishing Herceptin!  Hopefully you are all finished and will never have to deal with this beast again!

    Take care.

    Brenda 

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2010

    What I have found is that the NCI-National Cancer Institute does not recommend scans as follow up for stage I BC. Alot of insurance companies won't pay for them. Each doctor can Practice as they see fit. My first 2 onc's said no scans because the NCI does not recommend it so I searched till I found one who said if I needed it for peace of mind he would order it.

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited July 2010

     Most oncs only do scans if you have a symptom.  Most of the oldbies go by the "2 weeks" standard: if something hurts for 2 weeks, call the onc.  Get seen and determine if further testing is needed.  remember, it usually takes about 8 years for a breast lesion to become large enough for diagnosis.  As far as mets, my onc and I agreed that recurrance is usually found within the first 2 years post dx.  But he still didn't need to get scans.

    Re: blood work: mine only got liver studies and routine CBC.  On the Day of diagnosis, the very day, my blood work for cancer was absolutely negative.  Needless to say, I never got that again. 

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited July 2010

    My Onc explained it this way:   "We fish where we think there are fish."  So, having no reason to believe my cancer has spread...no scans for me.  I'm fine with that.

    Patty

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  • Twinmom77
    Twinmom77 Member Posts: 303
    edited July 2010

    Thanks everybody!  I'm feeling a little better about it after reading everyone's responses.  I never thought I'd get that freaked out feeling towards the end of Herceptin that I've heard others talk about.  Some days I know this is never going to come back again and other days I just want to wrap myself around my onc's leg and never let go!

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