How Often Are Your Onc Visits?

Hi,

Im about 15 months out of treatment, May will be my next 6 month follow up....I think the onco told me 3months for the 1st year, 6 months for two more years, then he will cut me loose to once a year until I either need him or I end hormonals....I dont like it either but guess I too will do what they say....

I had just graduated to annual visits when I got my second cancer, so it's a do-over for me:

Every three months for two years, every six months for 3 years, then yearly.

The biggest risk of recurrence is in the two year window.

Even though my breasts are now gone, and my onc knows I'll show up quickly with any mets-like complaint, he still insists on the three month routine for now, mainly to check labs (CBC and liver functions, no tumor markers.)

Anne

Wow.... I had bilateral mastectomies in May 2006, rads and then tamoxifan.  Saw my onc in October 2006 and he said to come back in 2 years...made an appointment for October 2008.

I called the cancer clinic a couple days ago and was told that I am not to see onc unless I have a recurrence.....what do you think of that....

6 months with my onc and 6 months with my surgeon on alternating quarters. This week is surg. June is onc.

I still see my onc every three months, breast surgeon every six months.   My breast surgeon will release me after two years, onc is lifetime.   My twin sees her onc once a year, she was dx 15 years ago. 
March 29th will be my one year anniversary date of my lumpectomy.   I finished chemo Sept/07.

Harley, congrats on your one year anniversary. I remember when you joined here!  :-)

TerryNY:

I see you registered on... my birthday!! 

Congratulations on your soon upcoming anniversary!

My chemo was over on Oct. 9th, 2007, so I was just behind you!

Thanks!

Harley

I was dx 8-04. I was on the three month plan for the first year after finishing herceptin in 7/06.  I graduated to the six month plan, and I thought I would graduate to the one year plan last visit, but she said not until 2010. UGH.

I saw her in december, and said, next time, I'll see you in a tank top and flip flops. We had a laugh that my hair is now longer than hers.

I finally feel like this whole doctor appt thing is getting easier.  I know people used to tell me it would get better with time, but of course you only half believe them.  To all you one/two year out of tx gals, I just want to say- those gals before me were right, and it really does get easier.

MOTC,

I am not Terry, but my surgeon told me that I will see him once a year, for the rest of my life.  He will just examine my breasts.  I had a bilateral mastectomy, but we can still have local recurrence in our breasts, so that is the reason.  I really like my surgeon, so I'll be sad to only see him once a year.  He's a really nice guy!

What Beth said is true: 

Even though I went a couple of rounds with my onc., the visits are now getting better, and he almost feels like a 'father figure' to me now. 

Harley