follow up check ups after 5 years

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ravdeb
ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I'm wondering what others in my stage after bc are doing.

I just came back from my 6-month onc check up. All my scans are okay, nothing wrong..I'm 5 years out and today she said I don't need to see her for another year!! YAY!!!

 BUT..she wants me to see the breast surgeon. I haven't seen him for maybe 3 years. I didn't feel it was worth my time. He did not do a good breast check and I just didn't think it was worth it. My original onc felt that was okay but my new onc (original onc is no longer in this dept) who I've been seeing for about 2 years, keeps telling me to see the breast surgeon. Now she said that mid-year, I must see the breast surgeon instead of coming to her.

 hmmm... WHY?

Do any of you still see the breast surgeon after 5 years? I had a lumpectomy so once that was over..all was well..no complications..nothing. She just wants him to do a breast check.

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  • Veryhopeful
    Veryhopeful Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2011

    Congrats on your 5 years.  I am 7 years out.

     I had 2 lumpectomies, chemo, rads and tamoxifen.  I stopped seeing the breast surgeon after the first year.  I just didn't see the point.  I stopped seeing the oncologist after 3 years.  I was getting "drive-by" check-ups that I felt were a waste.  It was a waste of money and time for me. 

    Maybe she feels the breast surgeon will do a better exam?

    Good luck!

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  • MrsBee
    MrsBee Member Posts: 124
    edited February 2011

    I'm a little past 5 years out also, and I still see the breast surgeon as well as the onc, and I'll continue to do so for a long time to come.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    Deb...It is wonderful to hear from you again as I have thought of you in recent years! I too have reached 5 years and was told, at my last visit, that I will now be seen only yearly. They have ordered yearly MRIs to accompany my visits and, of course, the yearly mammograms, since it has been determined that these are valuable for those of us with dense breasts. But as for seeing the surgeon again...huh? It seems to me that one visit with a competent breast specialist, regardless of sub-specialty, is enough. I think I'd skip it if I were you.

    ~Marin

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited February 2011

    Hey Deb!  My onc did a MUCH better breast exam on mx and good side than the breast surgeon Ever did.  All bs did was give me the results of mammo and spend a good, oh, 15 seconds cking the boobs.  And all that after a 2 hour drive one way.

    After 5 years and all was well, I depend on myself and my pcp, who even if he's a general surgeon, doesn't do all that great an exam.  Certainly not the kind of exam we were all taught to do to ourselves (and as nurses to our patients). 

    On the other end, the worst pelvic I ever had was by a GYN 4 days prior to being dx. 

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  • CasinoGirl
    CasinoGirl Member Posts: 673
    edited February 2011

    Hello ladies.  Deb, Marin, and Dotti, don't know if you remember me, but I used to be quite active here. Don't log on much these days, but something made me log on just now (boring afternoon at the office perhaps?) and glad I did!  So nice to see familiar faces Smile

    I am 6 yrs out as of Oct '10 (can't believe it) and after 5 years I'm on an annual schedule with my onc.  I had lumpectomy but haven't seen the breast surgeon since he removed my port.  Not that I wouldn't like to see him, as he's quite the handsome man lol

    Sounds like you all are doing well!  Me too!   

    Donna

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  • sam52
    sam52 Member Posts: 950
    edited February 2011

    I decided not to see the breast surgeon again after I was done with surgery......I kept up all my oncology appointments,however, and then suddenly,after about 5 years, I was advised to switch over to the surgery team again.The oncologist said to consider myself discharged. Meanwhile I decided not to have an annual mammogram, but to have one only every other year. This week I saw the breast surgery team for the results of my mammo ( and a very perfunctory 'poke and grope') and was told I am being discharged! I am just over 9 years and thought I would be followed up for a bit longer.

    So now I feel I really am on my own......

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  • sushanna1
    sushanna1 Member Posts: 764
    edited February 2011

    Deb,

     I am 9 years out and see the breast surgeon once a year.  However, because I am taking femara, I still still see the oncologist twice a year.  I am not sure whether it is because I take femara or because I participated in a chemotherapy clinical trial.  

    Best wishes,

    Sue 

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited February 2011

    Hey Donna!  So glad to see you here again.  And that you have celebrated another milestone!  Hang a whle and see what's going on!  No one seems to stuff beach bags anymore but they do other interesting things, esp. politics from time to time. 

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