Followup after treatment?

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Halah
Halah Member Posts: 352
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

What sort of follow up tests are usually done and how often after all is said and done and you are cancer free? What is the case for you?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited August 2010

    Mindy, the tests that are done post-treatment, and the frequency of those tests, depends on your diagnosis and the treatments that you've had. 

    In my case, I had very early stage BC, DCIS with a microinvasion of IDC.  Because I had a single mastectomy and still have one natural breast (which has extremely dense breast tissue), I get annual mammos and annual MRIs, alternating every 6 months.  I do not get other scans or blood work, both because I'm so early stage and also because I'm not on hormone therapy (I opted out of taking Tamoxifen).

    Other women, with more advanced BC and/or who are on other therapies (Tamoxifen, AIs or Herceptin), will get other scans and tests that aren't necessary for me. 

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited August 2010

    I finished all my treatment just one month ago.  I will have a bone scan, and a body cat scan done in November.  I am not sure when the Mammogram will be for my other breast.  The surgeon did one the week before my surgery so it may now be in March instead of Novemeber.  I am considered cancer free at this time.  Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. 

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  • Halah
    Halah Member Posts: 352
    edited August 2010

    Abby I am glad to hear you are cancer free and holding! Thanks Beesie... I'm just really worried about the cost as there is no assistance that I know of for medical bills even though they are cancer related; assistance is just for "cancer treatment".

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