?'Graduating' from followup with an oncologist/breast surgeon?

Leaf-----my mom was closely monitored for several years following an ILC diagnosis (lumpectomy, radiation, ALND, and 5 years of tamox), weaning down over time from every 3 months, to  6 months, then 9, then yearly, and then basically back to regular screening mammos (diagnosed over 27 years ago; fortunately, she has never had a recurrence). The risk with invasive cancer does goes down after 5 years (greatest risk of recurrence is within the first 2 years) ; the risk with LCIS does not go down over time.  I have been seeing an oncologist since I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and will probably continue indefinitely. (I am not followed by a surgeon currently).  She does a physical exam, monitors my Evista use , coordinates my MRIs and mammos, updates my prescription as needed, and we revisit the topic of risk, BRCA testing, and PBMs (usually due to my questions/concerns).  Initially, they felt my lifetime risk was 36.6% and my 5-year risk was 4.8%;  (although said it was a "guesstimate" as the risk assessment tools do not allow for LCIS); now she thinks it is still about 31% (I guess adjusted for age, since 10 years have gone by).  She actually said "good news! you don't need MRIs anymore, since your breasts are not dense!" at my appt in Dec. Here I really thought she had a good handle on LCIS. So I had to explain to her that I was not having MRIs due to breast density (I don't have any density problem at all, breasts are all fatty and easy to read on mammo; but good to know that she realizes that MRIs are good for women with dense breasts)--I have MRIs due to the LCIS and my family history of ILC, both of which are very sneaky and not usually found on mammo. (and sometimes not found on MRI either). and given that my risk is at least 31% (and may be even higher, we don't really know), she agreed that I should continue with yearly MRIs.

Anne

Leaf, I'm treated by UT Southwestern Medical staff at a high risk breast clinic in our county hospital and am followed by a breast surgeon. These are the same folks who staff Simmons Cancer Center which is an NCI Cancer Center. If they aren't up on it, nobody is. I just happened to get lucky to be seen by a little twerp who had just graduated from med school in Grenada.

They even see five cases or so a year of the mucinous ovarian cancer I had, and it is very rare. Speaking of follow ups, there is a less than 5% chance of recurrence with that, but I still had two years of quarterly follow ups with tumor markers & exams/pelvics and will continue for three more of semiannual. the LCIS is higher risk than that. To me, we're higher risk f/u than DCIS, because it is generally all removed.

Leaf - For my IDC I see my onco regularly through year 5, with the option to see her once a year to year ten.