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kim40
kim40 Member Posts: 904
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi Girls!  I've been away from the boards for a while - busy with life I guess, back to work full time, husband, kids, back to school - we all know how it is.

I seen my oncologist last week (3 month check up) and everything went well.  No symptoms of anything, looking healthy etc. 

What he told me next kind of took me for a loop.  He said that I didn't have to go back anymore to see him.  There is no blood test that they can give me to follow up on anything and no scans unless I have a symptom.  I was shocked!  I was expecting to go in and he tell me that I would have to come back and see him every 6 months for a little while and then let me go.  I wasn't ready for that "chop chop see ya later" attitude.  I told him that I wasn't ready and he agreed to see me one last time in January.  After that, I see my family doctor but do call him if I have any symptoms of anything.

Is this for real? Are you girls still being followed by your onc?  

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited August 2010

    I think I will Sherri.  I am also finished Herceptin (July 19th) and this anxious feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop will not go away.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited August 2010

    Kim - I have been seeing "someone" every three months or so (BS every 6, Onc about every 5, overlapping) At my last visit my BS bumped me to yearly (cos I am nearly 2 years out) and I am seeing my Onc next week, so will see what she says about my next follow-up. I know I stay with them both for 5 years, longer if I am staying on an AI for longer.

    It does seem odd, especially as you are ER+ and need a Femara prescription from him. Does he expect your Family Dr to prescribe that and make decisions about how long to stay on it, whether to change, etc. I would insist on seeing him yearly at least, while you are still on Cancer medication. It really doesn't seem right.

    That being said, wonderful to hear all went well, and that you are doing great!! 

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited August 2010

    Hmm, it does seem odd.   I still see my onc and as far as I know it will continue (at least on a yearly basis) for quite some time.

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  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited August 2010

    There is probably no strict rules but I would say that a follow up for at least 5 years (every 6 months) seems fairly standard.....

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited August 2010

    Thanks girls for your input.  I will be seeing my family doc every three months for Zoladex injections and my onc told me that she can perscribe my Femara. 

    I don't see him anymore until January.  I will talk to him again.  I just don't want to be left out to dry. 

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  • Mom3
    Mom3 Member Posts: 170
    edited August 2010

    I was diganosed in 2007 and still see my onc. every 3 months. I also do bloodwork every 3 months. Usually it's a short visit unless I have questions or concerns.

    p.s. I love "I Run For Life" by Melissa Ethridge too. It's my theme song  when I run.

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited August 2010

    I had cancer back in 1992 and I was still seeing my oncologist yearly until I was diagnosed again last June and will see him more frequently now of course.  I think like some of the other ladies I would ask about this and if I was not comfortable with his answer I would probably see another doctor for another opinion. 

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  • catherinejane
    catherinejane Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2010

    I'm scheduled to see my oncologist every 3 months for the first 2 or 3 years, then 4 months, and then every 6 months in the 5th year.  She, too, isn't doing any scans or blood work without symptoms which threw me at first but I now understand that it is a standard protocol.  I still go to my family doctor but I'm not quite far enough out from my treatment to trust him totally to recognize symptoms.  Maybe you could find out about other oncologists in your area.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited August 2010

    I am seeing my onc and/or surgical onc every 3 months and told that schedule would be that way for sometime.  I think the next step if I remember our conversation correctly would be every 6 months, but a few years off.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited August 2010

    hmmm...i still see my onc every 6-8 months for blood work..ie..tumor markers, etc. i am ready to move to 1 x a year ; but i am also 8 years out. i am thinking that you are pretty fresh out of treatment....i would want to be followed a bit more closely. we can always make appts with our oncologist but there is something about feeling that your onc is "following" you that helps with the feeling of security.

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  • 116
    116 Member Posts: 108
    edited December 2012

    That is kind of different. I was the one who actually asked my oncologist if I could stop coming in. I went every three months for the first year and then started going every six months. I told him, "why should I keep coming to see you since you do not do tests or anything other than a breast exam, which I can do myself for a lot less than the $30.00 copay". Then jokingly I told him that some times I do a breast exam on myself for free :)" He got a good laugh, but then said that I still needed to come in every six months. When I did not make another appointment I got a call from his office 6 months later saying that I needed to come in. I went in yesterday. He said, Hi, how are you doing, I said just fine, he did a breast exam, I paid my $30.00 copay and left. I do not even get a false sense of security from going to these appointments. Not sure if I will go to the next one or not?

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited August 2010

    Kim.....I am 4 + years since Dx and still see my onc every 3 months...I thought that by now I would be at 6 month intervals,but he has kept me close by his side....I stopped the AI's 5 months ago and I think that is part of the impetus now for onc keeping me on 3 month schedule.  After 2 years, BS moved me to annual visits, but I didn't go this year as I was seeing my onc and it didn't make sense to have both appts so close together....everytime I think about making an appt with BS, its seems like I just saw onc (guess I did since I see him every 3 months!!!)....I due to see PS next month for annual visit (up till last year, saw him every 3 months because of revisions etc), but don't know if I will go.....tired of all these docs and do I need to pay PS to tell me that implants are even and skin looks okay!!!!  My onc does a thorough breast exam, takes a good history, does blood work including tumor markers at every appt....onc does not do any scans unless patient is symptomatic or wants the scans....As far as I know, the onc will be my friend for the rest of my life!!!! 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited August 2010

    i also think it depends on if you have any complications; ie...elevated blood work, lung nodules, broken ribs , unusual swelling...etc.  we are all so different in how we respond in treatment and symptoms; has a lot of do with medical history, age...response to treatment...pathology of cancer...etc. clinical trials usually have specific protocol as well as they are collecting data.

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

    gee I think I would find a new one.  I was told that they would see me for the rest of my life...rather she told me I own you now.  lol  I don't know yet how often but I have made it to the two month visit now.  They have also already ordered bone scan, and a chest and pelvis Catscan.

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  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited August 2010

    Hi Kim,

    That does sound strange. I was told I would see the medical oncologist every 3 months, until he and I jointly agree to switch to 6 months. I just found out yesterday that I will be seeing the radiation oncologist for FIVE YEARS also. I have an appointment in September with the surgeon, which I am sincerely hoping will be my last one. I actually objected when told how long I would have to see the radiation oncologist, since I see the med oncologist every 3 months. And I'm stage 1, so not really all that high risk.

    Karen

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  • kdrez
    kdrez Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2010

    My doctor told me that he will see me every three months for three years and six months twice a year for two years.  I am so thankful and yet nervous, as my first big checkup is coming in two weeks....but I guess that I am comfortable knowing that my doctor is going to continue checking for cancer.  I guess right now I need that security.

    Kris

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited August 2010

    Yeah - I got the impression my onc and I had become lifelong friends. But he is the only one I see (still on 3 monthly appointments). I only saw the surgeon once after the lumpectomy and have not seen the radiation oncologist since finishing radiation.

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