Treatment after it's all over

Options
Deamo1
Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
edited July 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

After surgery and during/after treatment, what tests do the Dr's run to make sure cancer doesn't return? Is it a PET scan?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited July 2018

    In my experience they do regular clinical breast exams, yearly mammogram, and see if any symptoms pop up. My oncologist said they don't do routine scans anymore unless there are specific symptoms that need to be checked out.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited July 2018

    ^ this is what my oncologist said too.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2018

    I get a mammo every six months.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited July 2018

    I had a dbl mx so I don't get mri/ultrasound or mammo. I do get a heck of a thorough foobie check from the oncologist when I go for follow ups. My gyn also. My onco does bloodwork, I'm taking tamoxifen. I believe many just go based on any symptoms you may have and then decide if further investigation is warranted. Kind of scary, but then again, getting scans frequently also can raise anxiety.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AliceKo
    AliceKo Member Posts: 151
    edited July 2018

    Same as the others are telling you. Not much they do for monitoring after cancer, because more monitoring does not produce earlier diagnosis. My oncologist will see me every 6 mo for 5 years and then will discharge me. Yearly mammograms on the remaining breast. So, it is what it is. No need to worry about it, nothing will change or help. Acceptance.

    I believe that many research facilities (including Dana-Farber where I was treated) are looking at liquid biopsies, so far they are not accurate. That would be so great.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited July 2018

    A PET scan exposes you to the equivalent of 700 chest x-rays. The radiation from these scans is itself a risk factor for developing future cancers. See chart on p. 4 of this document for comparison of radiation exposure from various scans https://www.arpansa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3086/f...

    The American Society of Clinical Oncologists published evidence based survivorship care guidelines for breast cancer patients & they say

    "Recommendation 1.3: It is recommended that primary care clinicians should not offer routine laboratory tests or imaging, except mammography if indicated, for the detection of disease recurrence in the absence of symptoms"

    Table 1 has the summary of the guidelines: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/c...


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    But I had a dbl mastectomy so no mammo. Just wondering what they do. What labwork is ordered?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited July 2018
    My MO orders a CBC (complete blood count) and a CMP (complete metabolic panel) each time I see him. Over 3 years out and I am on the 6 month schedule. He does a quick breast and lymph node exam, listens to me breathe, then asks if I have any questions. I think he is looking for liver enzymes, and changes in blood work. I can access those reports on my portal, but have not done so recently. I am assuming he will let me know if there are concerns. (However, I will check them soon as he only comes in one day a week now and may miss something.)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    Thank you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited July 2018

    You might not even get blood work. My oncologist doesn't do any.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories