Follow up for stage 3

LM070917
LM070917 Member Posts: 323
edited January 2016 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hey there,

I had a mascretomy and axillary node removal surgery just over 3 months ago. I'm currently undergoing dose dense chemo TAC - every 2 weeks for 4 months until Feb 2016. I then start rads in March for 5 weeks, but I'm just wondering what the follow up as been for stage 3 people after this?

My oncologist has advised that I will have regular mammograms and ultrasound tests (6 month initially then annual), but no CT, bone or PET scans, unless symptoms warrant this. I find this a bit odd and worrying because with some cancers (which spread to lungs/liver) you don't get symptoms until it's advanced, surely prevention is better than cure. What has everyone else experienced?

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  • Texasrose53
    Texasrose53 Member Posts: 354
    edited December 2015

    Lottemarine, I had 3 month check-ups after I was done with Surgery, Chemo and Rads. I was Triple Negative, Stage IIIA (1.5 CM tumor and 4 positive nodes). At one year out from last chemo...my tumor markers (CA 27-29) had started to go up just a few points (7 - 12). I had no symptoms but I questioned my ONC and he decided since it has been a year we would go ahead and do a bone scan and CT. Good thing we did!!! They did not find anything with bone scan...but they found a Pulmonary Embolism in my lung on the CT and a 1.5 CM nodule in lower lung. I am now on a blood thinner for the rest of my life for the PE which is because of the chemo. PET scan ordered and showed the nodule was positive and I had a few more mets in my lungs and 2 nodes. So not to scare you.....but I would insist on the scans if I were you!!! At least 1 year after you complete Chemo.

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  • JustKeepSwimming44
    JustKeepSwimming44 Member Posts: 44
    edited December 2015

    Hi Lottemarine, I had a CT and bone scan after my mastectomy when they found out I had 3 positive nodes and 8 cm of tumor. I'm still getting Herceptin as part of a trial but finished all other treatment. My oncologist says the same thing. No scans etc unless symptoms arise.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited December 2015

    Hi Lottemarine, if your pre-treatment CT and other scans were clear they usually don't do them again - unless there is a reason. I had chest CT scans every six months over a period of two years only because there were multiple lung nodules on the very first chest CT done before treatment.

    My MO does bone density test every two years if one is on AI. She also orders two cancer marker blood tests as well as basic blood panels every time they see me.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited December 2015

    Hi!

    I just finished a year of Herceptin where I was seeing MO every six weeks. Now, I am set to see MO every three months. I am getting mammograms every six months at this point. Will I get other scans? My MO is a scanner (have already had three PET scans and three MRIs). I suspect that I may get one MRI a year and that will be it.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited December 2015

    My onc is more liberal with scans and tumor markers than most; believing that "people need to know how to live their lives" and sooner is better than later if there are mets to be discovered.

    I had a bone scan, CT scans, and PET-CT in December 2011, after my original Stage III diagnosis. All negative, thank you, Lord.

    She ordered PET-CT scans in in 2013 and 2014. She skipped it this year because I was doing well and had no complaints. Had I wanted one, though, she would have willingly ordered it.

    I see her every three months for a physical exam and blood work, including two tumor markers. I like her a lot, and I actually look forward to my appointments. If I have any new significant aches or twinges, she orders an MRI.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2015

    I'm in a bit of an unusual position. I was in a trial, so for nine months post chemo and surgery, I had bloodwork and full physical exams every three weeks. After I finished the trial, I was dropped to six month follow ups. At first I was thrilled not to have to go back for so long, but around the three month mark, I started feeling the effects of such a quick weaning. As I approached my second diagnosisversary, I started having morning panic attacks. I have had symptoms, so I will be pushing for a scan after the holidays. Plus, I've been emailing my onc and bugging him with questions from the SABCS and asking for even more chemo. So I didn't do so well on the six month plan after all..

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  • wrmbrownie
    wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2016

    I finished rads in Oct. At that time, my rad onc scheduled mammograms, ultrasounds and CT scans for 6 months out. I also see regular oncololgist often because I'm in a clinical trial.

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