HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Follow up care after chemo complete/ scans

suzan w · 05-03-2014, 01:11 PM

My oncologist also did not believe in routine scans. During the year I received herceptin, I had routine blood work, including MUGA scans. Tumor markers were done during this time. I continued to see my oncologist quarterly for years 3+4 post treatment...with blood work, including tumor markers. Year 5 I saw her twice, and then was "released" . It felt like my lifeline was severed!!! My oncologist told me that I could make an appointment any time, she would order any scans, blood work, etc. As time goes on I am more comfortable with no oncologist, scans, etc. At my last regular doctor's visit I asked, any had, tumor markers done...normal. At first it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that I shouldn't worry as long as I was asymptomatic...after all, I was asymptomatic when I was first diagnosed!!! And as far as not "worrying", HA!!!I still worry about every little twinge. And I have gone to the ER on more than one occasion with symptoms...dizziness and nausea (sure it was recurrence to brain) was really a bad case of vertigo. Burning pain and numbness ( sure it was tumor pressing on spine) was really SHINGLES. You get the picture! That is another reason I love this support group...we all "get it"!!!

05-03-2014, 01:11 PM	#4
suzan w Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Naples FL Posts: 1,744	Re: Follow up care after chemo complete/ scans My oncologist also did not believe in routine scans. During the year I received herceptin, I had routine blood work, including MUGA scans. Tumor markers were done during this time. I continued to see my oncologist quarterly for years 3+4 post treatment...with blood work, including tumor markers. Year 5 I saw her twice, and then was "released" . It felt like my lifeline was severed!!! My oncologist told me that I could make an appointment any time, she would order any scans, blood work, etc. As time goes on I am more comfortable with no oncologist, scans, etc. At my last regular doctor's visit I asked, any had, tumor markers done...normal. At first it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that I shouldn't worry as long as I was asymptomatic...after all, I was asymptomatic when I was first diagnosed!!! And as far as not "worrying", HA!!!I still worry about every little twinge. And I have gone to the ER on more than one occasion with symptoms...dizziness and nausea (sure it was recurrence to brain) was really a bad case of vertigo. Burning pain and numbness ( sure it was tumor pressing on spine) was really SHINGLES. You get the picture! That is another reason I love this support group...we all "get it"!!! __________________ Suzan W. age 54 at diagnosis 5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast 5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++ 6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg. Oncotype DX-high risk 8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C 10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin arimidex-5 years 2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis 7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE 8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy 10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis) 6/14/10 5 year cancerversary! 8/2010-18%increase in bone density! no further treatments Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance" I say,"What a long strange trip its been" 'One day at a time' 6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY! 7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use 6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! 7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis 2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL. 6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!! 6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!