Cancer Markers

I assume your surgeon will still want to see you once a year. If so, he or she will probably do a thorough exam of your chest and lymph glands, as nagem described. Probably no blood tests would be recommended since you didn't have invasive cancer. Regarding the area of breast tissue left behind, you might consider a procedure to remove that. After all, you had the bilateral to minimize the risk of any recurrence. My breast surgeon (at a major medical center) says that she has at times "re-done" mastectomies because breast tissue was left behind.

My first breast cancer was DCIS with a small invasion, for which I had lumpectomy and rads and did see an oncologist, who treated me with Tamoxifen. After a second primary in the other breast (DCIS), I had the bilateral mastectomy. Although I was prescribed Femara after the surgery, I was advised after a few months that it wasn't necessary since all breast tissue had been removed (and because my cancer was very early stage). I do still see my oncologist, though, but now just once a year. And she used to do blood tests, including tumor markers, but at my last visit, she said they weren't necessary. And she was only doing them at all because of the tiny invasive portion of my first cancer.

I suppose you could request an appointment with an oncologist just to discuss your situation and learn what, if any, follow-up you need. If there is a significant amount of breast tissue remaining and you don't have it removed, possibly hormonal therapy would be suggested, though I think that's unlikely. At the very least, I do think you should ask your questions to your internist and see what he or she suggests you do.

But, as nagem says, you've taken a huge step with the bilaterals to minimize your risk of recurrence.

Barbara

BreastFree.org 

I also had a bilateral mastectomy for locally advanced cancer.  Both my chemo onc and surgeon explained to me that it would be almost impossible to get 'all' the breast tissue out, so they wanted me to be aware that the bilateral did not insure against a recurrence.  It definitely lowers the probability.  Not sure who a person would see if they did not have an oncologist - but I would definitely be asking questions of my GP and surgeon.