Routine health care

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Cindyl
Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I finish up rads next week.  I expect that my MO will start me on tamoxifen when I see him on Thursday.  Then, I should be finished with "active" cancer treatment,  (fingers crossed)  I understand there will be routine mammograms every 6 months for a while.  But given early stage cancer, I'm trying to get some kind of handle on what other routine things I should take care of and what I should plan for going forward (don't want to forget anything... this insurance year ends June 21 and for the first time ever, I've met my deductible and out of pocket max, so who should I see these next 6 weeks?) and going forward? I've changed my insurance to a lower deductible and am putting a bit more into a medical spending account just on the theory that next year will probably be more expensive then previous years were.

I'm 51 and have never done more than just the occasional trip to the gp and and a mammogram when she bullied me into it.  Guess those days are over. 

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  • B123
    B123 Member Posts: 730
    edited May 2012

    Cindy, congrats on finishing up your rads! You will most likely see your onc on a regular schedule until you are "ok" on the Tamox, if it goes well then you will see her less.  You will need to see your GYN every 6 months to keep an eye on things from the Tamox plus the mammo.  Always good to keep up with your yearly physicals as well.  I had a cat scan done 2 times 6 months apart just to make sure all is good.  You will also be following up with your rad doctor after 3 months.  I know what you mean about the insurance, I never had to use it before, now I am so beyond my deductables.. but that is our new life now.

    Hope that helps a bit! Good luck to you my friend!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2012

    Don't know how you feel about this but since you are 51, you might want to consider a colonoscopy.  Also, a bone density scan will give you an osteoporosis baseline, and a pelvic ultrasound will give you a baseline for uterine lining if you will be taking Tamoxifen.

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for the suggestions. I see my RO today and the MO next week and I'll see what tests they think they might want in the near term, then go from there.

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