do you still get follow-up exams?

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jojoxoxo
jojoxoxo Member Posts: 34
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Hi

I'm a 12-year survivor, stage 2, 1 pos. lymph node, Grade3.  

I recently moved from the U.S. to Canada.  I had been seeing my oncologist every 6 months for follow-up and felt reassured by this.  In Canada, after several months of searching, I have yet to find a center/or doc that will see me for follow-up.

I'm curious , for those of you who are several years or a decade out --- do you still see an oncologist for follow-up and how frequently? 

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited December 2011

    I am only 18 months out of active treatment & I don't see an onco regularly.  I have to see my general Dr every 3 months, after 2 years it will be every 6 months.  If I have a problem then my Dr gets in touch with the onco which has worked well for me as I am having ongoing problems with AI's.  I don't know where in Canada you are, as every province is different.

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  • childressvv
    childressvv Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2011

    I was diagnosed with DCIS a little over a year ago. I was also BRCA 2+. I had my first 6 month post mammogram of my remaining breast and found  some 'specks'. Since I was BRCA 2 + a surgical biopsy was recommended and performed. It was benign calcifications. SO, I am a little gun shy at mammograms as they (the docs) will get all wound up because of my genetic status.

    My sister was a stage 1,neg nodes 16 years ago and she does not get regular mammograms. However, when I was diagnosed last year, she was genetically tested and was positive and had a MRI....everything was OK. I have another sister who had DCIS 20+ years ago and has not had any recurrences and has her annual mammograms. She has not been genetically tested but we suspect she is positive.

    I for one am exploring Breast Thermography.....It is suppose to be 'earlier' detection. When I had my surgical biopsy, I had a thermogram to compare and the thermogram said no cancer and it was right.....I am not opposed to mammograms but may consider, thermograms as a beginning point, MRI and if something shows on either of those move onto a Mammogram. I hate mammograms. I also hate that the screening makes me feel sick and I am not. So I can understand the resistance at all of the poking and prodding....

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