When To End Relationship with your Oncologist?

When I finished AIs, my MO and I agreed that my capable internist (who also agreed and was send my files) would handle the totality of my care. If recurrence happens, I'd line up another MO, as my original one didn't like questions or to be handed scientific papers. His loss...

I'm sure this depends on the kind of BC a person has and the standards of care. Since I had IBC I will see my oncologist for the rest of my life. For two years I'll be checked every three months, then it goes to every 6 months; then annually.

I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2009, had a lumpectomy, radiation and took tamoxifen for 4.5 years until diagnosed with endometrial cancer. I had stopped seeing my breast surgeon after my post-surgery visit but have continued to see both my medical oncologist and radiation oncologist ever since - now annually. Last year for the first time my RO questioned why he was still seeing me, yet I have another visit scheduled this year! I was switched to a nurse practitioner two years ago at the MO's office. The MO said he wanted to keep me as an active patient just in case - which is both reassuring and scary at the same time.

I disagree we all need lifetime monitoring. I think it depends on the kind of BC you were DX with. I have read the horror stories of BC returning after many, many years (like a poster here) but I don’t believe that’s the norm at all. I have an internist whom I see annually who is perfectly capable of providing advice/referrals if the need arises. Of course I have annual mammograms followed by a visit with my Breast surgeon.

Diane

I'm curious who all will turn me loose after next year, when it will be my fifth year. I never saw my RO after radiation was done - they just said to call if any problems showed up. My BS said next year will be my last with her, but to continue my yearly mammograms. I was in an odd situation because I had both breast and kidney cancer at the same time. I'm down to yearly CTs for the kidney, and I think five years is the normal follow-up for that. I had endometrial cancer ten years before the others, and I only saw the gynecology oncologist a few times after surgery because he was a patronizing dick. So now I'm really curious if my MO will turn me loose or if she'll still see me to coordinate it all. My BS joked that some MOs hang on to patients until their schedules can't take it or the patient gets sick of them. I'm not taking an anti-hormonal, so the MO just sees me every six months now - but she had me do a nuclear bone scan a few weeks ago to make sure it's just arthritis that showed up on the recent CT. I have a non-cancer thing (aneurysm) that needs to be watched, plus some small lung nodules, so maybe my MO or PCP will still order annual scans. Guess I'll find out next year!