A bit mixed up

TracyM22 · February 2007

Hello all.
my mum has recently had treatment for BC (grade 3) She had 6 months chemo, mastectomy & node clearance (2 of which showed positive) & 3 weeks of radiation & we've been on pins ever since.

On Monday she had her 3 month follow up appointment with the oncologist, who asked her a few questions, & examined around her other breast, armpits, neck & shoulder blades, then told her he was 'handing her into the hands of the surgeons' to discuss her reconstruction. he then shook her hand & told her to stay healthy, but that was basically goodbye!
Obviously I realise this is good news , as he found no cause for concern but, now, after the initial relief has worn off, I feel slightly strange.
Is this normal for a follow up? I was expecting blood tests / scans & what have you, instead it all seemed very simple & over very quickly.
I'm also a little scared now, as mum has been under the watchful eyes of the doctors for the last year, & now she isn't, I feel suddenly a bit anxious. Is this normal?
My heads all mixed up at the moment, mums over the moon, as this is a sign she can start moving forward with her life, which of course she can, but I'm feeling a bit sort of deflated.
Oh heck, whatevers wrong with me?

50Lynn05 · February 2007

Dear Tracy,
There is nothing wrong with you! It is natural to feel anxious when the active treatments are finished.

As for follow-up, the following is from the National Cancer Institute website. "... some investigators recommend that acceptable follow-up be limited to physical examination and annual mammography for asymptomatic patients who complete treatment for stage I to stage III breast cancer. The frequency of follow-up and the appropriateness of screening tests after the completion of primary treatment for stage I to stage III breast cancer remain controversial."

While there is disagreement on exactly what tests and frequency of follow-up, everything I have read agrees that there should be periodic follow-ups. Specifics would depend on the details of each persons disease. And the follow-ups don't necessarily have to be with the oncologist, they could be with primary care.

Your mum is lucky to have a daughter so involved and interested in her care.
Lynn

TracyM22 · February 2007

Thanks Lynn!
It's really strange how I'm feeling, I'm still waiting for the feelings of elation to wash over me, as I was sure they would once we got to near the end of this nightmare journey, but aside from the initial sigh of relief after the exam, I've felt more insecure than anything else!
I feel really angry that this thing has invaded our lives for the last 12 months, and is still casting a shadow over me.
Oh well, c'est la vie, I suppose! Thanks again.
Take good care,
T xx

Rosalieedna · April 2007

Hi! This is really strange for me to use a chat room on the internet so I'm not sure I'm doing this correctly. Anyway I was diagnosed in mid Jan. Then had an MRI and found a second site. The first cancer was 2.5mm but hormone and HER2 negative. The second cancer was at least 7mm but may have been bigger. It was only 10% estrogen receptor positive, high grade. I had a mastectomy and found it was node negative. Currently I'm on aromasin, but am waiting to see if a 2nd opinion will suggest any thing further. At first I was satisfied with the limited treatment believing that my cancer was small and probably wouldn't spread. Now I've read more on hormone negative, high grade cancers and wonder. Did anyone else experience different view on treatment? I got through the mastectomy but this waiting to decide what next is difficult. Has anyone had a similar experience?

A bit mixed up

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