Does your onc say this too?

LittleFlower
LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I was at a "check up" with my oncologist the other day.  I actually saw the physicians assistant.  I hate these checks because I could seriously list numerous little aches and pains that I feel, but I have no idea if any of them are cancer related.  On most days I can shrug them off.  On some days where I feel more fearful, my mind wanders all over. Of course I'm afraid of recurrence...my sister in law just lost her battle with bc!  So I'll spare you the details of my rumblings to the PA, but the statement she made was " finding metastasis early doesn't change the prognosis of the disease". Then why am I even having these checks which involve no blood work or imaging anyways.  It was a real downer to hear that, I feel like what's the point of trying to be vigilant.  On a brighter note, she said it's uncommon to have mets after 5 years - though there are many women on these boards that do, so I'm not sure i believe that "brighter" note. *sigh* 

I just hate check ups.  What do you all hear about routine testing for early detection of mets?  Even if doesn't change prognosis, it might buy more time?

Just having one of those moments I guess. Thanks for reading my rant :)

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited January 2014

    Hi Little Flower, I honestly think that ANYONE who comes in contact with a BC patient needs to have some serious sensitivity training. Especially after the person has gone through tx when we are  all so vulnerable. I won't even go into what was said to me in the early post chemo days. In my field I am around Doctors all the time so they have always been really blunt with me. Now it doesn't faze me at all. I actually vicariously get my kicks when I tease them about  hair or lack of.. or whatever gets to them..

     Getting back to the original comment, I would just say this. Mets always gets worse until tx is started.  We all get aches and pains, and freak out, and most frequently it's unrelated to BC. If  pain continues after 2 weeks without letting up it needs to be checked out. The statement that it doesn't matter how quickly the mets are caught  is  not truly accurate . It's just one of those stats that gets thrown in the mix. Everycase is different.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Little Flower:  I can't believe the PA said that to you.  That's the WRONG thing to say.  My reply would have been then why do doctors stress "early detection" is the key to survival??  How often do you get check-ups now tjhat you are past the 5 year mark?  I think so many lose the fight because the doctors don't see any benefit to routine tests, so why do they stress the mammos so much when they won't follow up on patients?  I can relate that to my friend who had been telling her onc for over 6 months that she didn't feel good and he wouldn't order any pet /mri or anything and by the time she switched oncs, bc had spread. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited April 2015

    LittleFlower-First off, thank you for sharing and knowing that you were dx in 2006 gives me hope.

    I'm sorry about your sister-in-law.

    As far as finding mets early, I personally believe it's is better.  My thought is why not treat as early as possible so that the beast can be controlled better?  My MO has said something similar and I think she knows where I stand on the subject.  You're correct, why the heck go for checkups if they aren't checking us thoroughly - I've had to push for tumor markers and other things.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited January 2014

    people really don't think about what they are saying.  The bc experience does have me trying so hard to be more thoughtful when I speak (I am not always successful--but I work on it).   When I think of the day to day, in and out the medical professionals deal with, I am sure that sometimes things just slip out--does not make it ok, but I imagine it happens.  

    Early in my treatment, my radiation onc met with me for the first time and she said something like "you are probably going to be fine"... I stopped her right there and said "if you are going to be on this team, there can be no "probably".  To her undying credit, when we met again, she said" Notice that I did not use the word "probably".... 

    Words are so important, yet we throw them around all the time.... I am so sorry that the PA was so dismissive.... I honestly think until you have had a serious threat to your health, you really cannot know what it feels like.  

    I am over 5 years out, and while I am very optimistic, I know that there are indeed recurrences.  I agree with the 2 week rule. One thing I did was got a pain app for my phone-- so when I notice the twinge, I record it and just see if it goes two weeks.  It never does---- thankfully..... 

    hang in there. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2014

    I love seeing my PA every 6 mths which includes blood work,.   She's been my PC for 18 yrs. so we have 'history'.  I  saw her on Tues.  My blood work had noting to do directly with my IBC but rather my overall health.  I'm low on D and B - something I work with all the time during winter.  My total chlosterol is high - BUT my HDL is high, my LDL is very low so we don't worry abot it - has stayed consistant over many years.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited January 2014

    Thought I would drop in to share my opinion. I personally do believe that it makes a difference when mets is found. My medical oncologist did not agree with my opinion. Long story short my tumor markers went up in Sept. Ended up with one met to the pelvis. My radiation oncologist does believe that it makes a difference and new studies are proving that. Maybe google ogliometastatic. The statistics that are out there that shows it doesn't make a difference I believe is old. I ended up changing medical oncologist because of our disagreement. I guess the bottom line is, it is your life, no one else's. If you believe it makes a difference when mets is found then I would encourage you to seek out an oncologist that agrees with your opinion. If you are hormonal positive the cancer can come back at any time.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited January 2014

    I was stage 3 for 10 and half years.  TM found my met to my spine.  After rads , monthly Zometa ( which I am still on) and letrozole I have been NED for a year.  It does depend on parhology of cancer but I believe finding mets early can make a difference. Starting tx immediately ...in my mind ... Makes a difference.  I have been a cancer patient for 12 years.  Stage 4 for 17 months. Doing well.  Never give up. Keep on. Diana50

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fondak
    fondak Member Posts: 376
    edited January 2014

    Diana50  It is always an encouragement to see your posts.  You were a great encouragement to me when I was diagnosed.  Thanks for your faithfulness to come here a share with us.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2014

    My other MO told me this once...didn't matter when it was found, if tx works it will work no matter the size...I'm no longer with her.  Maybe it's my own BC logic but...yes this might be true but you can't tell me that it doesn't make some difference some of the time.  I mean based on size of met and where it is located has to make a difference.  My current MO does blood work every 3 mths., she told me once I'm going to do everything I can, if your insurance will pay then we're going to do it.   

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories