Doctors follow ups - who is really necessary

SunnyC · January 2015

SunnyC · January 2015

I have a breast surgeon, oncologist, reconstruction (plastic) surgeon, gynecological oncologist, gynecologist and a primary care physician. I have had a radical bilateral mastectomy, full hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. I have no breast tissue, no uterus, cervix, ovaries or tubes. I did not have to have radiation nor chemo.

I followed up with my breast surgeon about 2 week post op in September. I'm a regular at the recon surgeon's office due to complications. I've seen my oncologist once in September and she's called. Is it really necessary to see the breast surgeon for any reason again? Who do you see annually (for those ladies at least a few months post op or more). I imagine just my primary and oncologist. Is there even any reason to see a gynecologist anymore??

sandcastle · January 2015

I...See my Breast Surgeon every 6 months......I am 4 years past as of Dec. but on the 5 year watch....no rads and no Chemo...Liz

SunnyC · January 2015

sandcastle, what does he or she do every 6 months

proudtospin · January 2015

I am further out and only see my MO yearly. Dang but it seems my other docs...ENT and urologist and primary care doc....just love to look for problems or such

it is an individual situation. My BS has told me that if any reocurance, then she is my surgeon

Spookiesmom · January 2015

My BS said he planned to follow me for 5 years. I don't know why. On the second yearly, I was dismissed, they were "too busy".

I see my MO every 6 months. I still have my port, go there for flushes. She wants me to see a gyn, only have 1 ovary left. Haven't done that yet, probably won't unless tumor markers start to climb.

RO dismissed me as soon as I finished.

I see PCP as needed.

BrooksideVT · January 2015

Personally, I highly value my annual visit with my surgeon, and wish it were every six months. With your regular ps appointments, it does seem the bs is a bit redundant, but, frankly, the person to ask is your ps (and/or your bs), He or she (or they) has (have) the expertise to fill you in on why you should or should not keep those appointments, and how the bs' examination is different from that of the ps.

I guess I'd ask my gyn and/or pcp about future follow-ups. Gyn's help us through lots of issues not directly related to uturus or ovaries.

farmerlucy · January 2015

I don't see my BS, but do see my onco every three months for now. I see my Gyn quite often due to issues that are prob completely normal but blamed on Tamoxifen. I'll see my PS this summer after three years. That one I'm thinking of dropping. I see my PCP once a year.

sandcastle · January 2015

Sunny....I had a Mastectomy on my Left Breast.....he does a Breast Exam I, use to go for a Mamo every 6 months...now I am down to a year.......Liz

grammakathy · January 2015

I'm one year out and see my BS every six months for a physical check and my MO every six months to talk about SEs. My reconstruction is complete so no more PS unless I return for tattoos

Juliecc · January 2015

I see my BS every 6 months and my Onc every 6 months but they are staggered so I see one or the other every 3 months. I do this for the first 2 years. Then I see the Onc every 6 months for 3 years, then yearly until 2014. So 10 years of follow up. My Onc is suggesting Tamoxifen for 10 yrs instead of 5. That is probably why there will be such a long follow up.

coraleliz · January 2015

I see my BS every six months & my MO(or PA) every six months. So every 3 months I have an appt. My BS is the only one that checks my breastless chest very thoroughly. Everyone else seems to be afraid of it(or maybe it's me they're afraid of.LOL). I see the GYN for Tamoxifen related issues. The urologist who agrees with my surgeon that I shaving a should avoid having the hysterectomy my GYN suggested. My BS never agrees with my MO..........will it ever end?

SunnyC · January 2015

Thanks girls.

I'm not quite sure how to feel, here's why. In September after the post-op follow up with my BS, she said "You know I have to follow you the rest of your life, right?" I said "oookay" and she told me to setup an appt for January. So an hour before my appt yesterday her nurse calls because they are too busy to see me and says they can see me in February instead. My annoyance triggers went off and I said "well, unless she NEEDS to see me for a REASON, let's just cancel". She was perfectly fine with doing so.

coraleliz · January 2015

Sunny- throughout "my BC Journey", I've often felt like a low priority. My MO often reschedules me(it's not like he has emergency surgeries). Once I recieved an email 1/2hr before my appt telling me that I would be seen by the PA instead. I use to think it was because I didn't do chemo & wasn't part of the "club". When I wanted another opinion regarding the need for chemo, I contacted a major cancer treatment center 6 hrs away. They couldn't see me for 6-7 weeks. Do I have cancer or don't I??????

I drift away from these boards at times but when my appts come around, I play catch up. BC is really just a nuisance for me at this point!

Ariom · January 2015

I am 2 years out from Umx and I just had my 2 year check up today. I go every 6 months to my Surgeon and I have an U/S and Mammo every 12 months.

My surgeon does a really thorough breast exam of the remaining breast and he checks right along the incision line of the Mx side, he has me sit up, with my hands behind my head and he checks from my neck, all the way down the lymph trail and under both arms. I'm fortunate to get a fairly long appointment, each time, so I get an opportunity to ask any questions that I have accumulated over the 6 months.

glennie19 · February 2015

I find it interesting that you still see your surgeon. Once I finished with all my post op checkups,, he was done with me. I do not go back to see him at all.

SmartassSmurf · March 2015

I am a little behind you folks, but I just hit the 6 month follow up point with my surgeon. I have been seeing her every 3 months (or more) since my 1st surgery 1/14.

I am sad that not all surgeons are as wonderful as mine as I go through this crap disease. When I see mine she feels my scars & talks to me about signs lymphedema (which I do not have) and range of motion. She feels my lymph nodes and checks my chest wall (I haven't had recon yet). She spends time answering questions I have about upcoming treatments & what to expect...even my ovary surgery that my gynecologist is doing.

I am so thankful I have my surgeon. My MO is great too, but I feel really connected to my surgeon. Also feel like anyone who is feeling up my lymph nodes and chest wall is someone I want to make a priority to see. My gal has rescheduled me, but I have always gotten the call a couple weeks before. It would really pissed me off if I felt like my cancer was not enough of a priority to them...I don't care what stage/chemo/treatment/choices a patient makes, this is a life th re heartening disease not a hangnail. Good luck.

NancyD · March 2015

I seem to have bad luck with my drs recently. My OB/GYN retired and my BS died. After I had the nips done, I never went back to my PS. Same with my radiologist. So the only ones now are annual visits to a new GYN and my oncologist.

I'm a bit further along than you, but I think once your reconstruction issues are cleared up, the only one you REALLY need to see on some regular basis is your oncologist. My PCP is seen for regular run-of-the-mill care as needed.

angelia50 · March 2015

I am 6 months out from my mastectomy. I had to cancel my appointment for follow up with my surgeon and when I rescheduled, I cold not get in for a couple of months, which was fine with me, because truthfully, I didn't want to go and was looking for an excuse. I got a call from the scheduler saying when the surgeon learned I as going over the 6 months by that far, that was not good, so they had me come in to see a PA. I didnt' mind that. This is a breast cancer center so to tell the truth, the PA's there probably deal with this more than many general surgeons or other doctors in other places. Not sure how long I have to keep up going but so far, I have been seen by oncologist, surgeon and PS, quite often. Had mammogram on natural side at 6 months and willl have a second one at 1 year, as well as see the surgeon again.

Doctors follow ups - who is really necessary

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