Seeking your thoughts....

[BonnieR]

It has been almost a year since my diagnosis! Next week I see the original doctor who discovered the cancer. When I had a routine mammogram that said "come back in 6 months" instead of waiting I went and sought her opinion of it. She has a practice dedicated to breast health. She decided to do the biopsy that found the cancer. I feel like she saved my life. Once diagnosed, my treatment was transferred to the cancer center team.
Anyway, next week I see her for an "axillary (sp) mammogram". I wonder what to expect. Have any of you had this proceedure?
Also, I want to be prepared with questions to ask her regarding follow up tests etc. She explains things well and is a straight shooter. So she is good to ask....
I am still receiving Herceptin and see an Onc every 6 weeks until Aug. at least. But I want to start thinking now of my long term treatment and follow up...what I should have done and how often.....
Thanks for any thoughts on the subject. And for all the help thus far.

[Mary Jo]

Hi Bonnie,

I see my oncologist as far as all my "cancer" care goes so I'm really not sure what to tell you. I've had both breasts removed so mammograms are not a part of my life and the axillary mammogram isn't something I am familiar with.

As far as follow up tests go for me, it's a "wait and see" kind of thing. Symptoms warrant tests is how I've proceded. For the first 2 years I saw my onc. every 3 months. Routine blood tests were run and liver checks also periodically. Also a physical exam. Now that I have passed the 2 year mark I see my onc. every 6 months. Same type of things are done still - physical exam and routine blood tests. That's it.

I remember when I went to see my gyn. doc for the first time since he diagnosed me. I was so nervous to see and talk to him. I even cried I remember. I was a wreck. Something about seeing the man who told me over the phone that I had breast cancer stirred all kinds of things in me. I remember thanking him for "taking the bull by the horns" in my case and setting up 2nd opinion appointments for me in Milwaukee (where I now go) and just doing "all the work" for me. I was an emotional wreck and had not a clue how to proceed. He thanked me for sharing that with him and I told him I wanted him to know so he could be of benefit to other women in that way bccause it was a Godsend to me.

Anyway, I hope the appointment goes well and you get answered all you want answered.

Love to you Bonnie....

Mary Jo

[BonnieR]

Thanks Mary Jo. Actully it was my GYN who made the referral for my second opinion mammogram when I expressed concern to him about the first one. And I did not want to wait 6 months. Like you, I have seen him since and thanked him for that. He said "I may be young but I have already learned to listen to my patients when they sense something is wrong even if it is not always obvious". We are fortunate when we have such sensitive people on our team.

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi Bonnie. I think it is similar to the post about capsular contractures, in that so few people are on board who have had one done that it will be a while before you get any answer. The mammo is being done just to make sure there are no abnormal nodes showing up, and if there are, then ultrasound and biopsy would be done.

http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/1/63

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...aa969c492a2dfa

Marejo.... your post really brought back some of the same memories for me... ! I got the news over the phone too... and was happy to get referred, especially since from here I felt like I was light years away from any specialists. I too depended on a referral from a local doc. Six years ago...

AlaskaAngel

[BonnieR]

Thanks AA. Knew I could count on you to come up with something. I will find this all very interesting a process. Since I have had a bilateral mast. I assume the test will be some sort of ultrasound from the beginning?

[AlaskaAngel]

Bonnie,

I haven't heard of an axillary mammogram before (but that honestly doesn't mean much; maybe someone else has.) I did the search of the net without success thus far. I don't know what the bilateral mast you had left behind... I too doubt there would be enough tissue to smoosh for a mammo.

Mammos are done to see calcifications so that the ultrasound can then be used to center in on them to see if there are any lumps and if there are, whether they are fluid-filled or solid (or even sometimes both). If they can't do a mammo they aren't going to see any calcifications whether they are there or not; but if there isn't a lot of tissue the ultrasound or other imaging would be done.

I think YOU are going to be the one to educate US about this one, after you've talked with the rads folks!

AlaskaAngel

[BonnieR]

Trust me, there will not be much "smooshing" involved!

[BonnieR]

Just to report on the test today. It was a Mediolateral Oblique (MLO)mammogram. Something showed up on the side which had been malignant so she did an ultrasound. She finally determined that it was very likely a clip left from my mastectomy (intentionally left!) and said "I don't see anything bad there". She did mark the spot so I could memorize where it is and if there were any changes, to report it. Said not to worry about it. I have contacted my surgeon's office to be sure that there is, indeed, a clip. They will review my surgical report. I will feel better then. But, meanwhile, I was told to come back for a follow up mammogram in one year. And then went shopping and to lunch!

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi Bonnie,

I'm glad your provider checks things out like that for you. I know about MLO views but know less about your anatomy after your surgery, and am curious enough to think maybe others are too... Could you describe better just how they did the MLO views? Like, if there isn't much tissue there to squish, how was it done?

A.A.

[BonnieR]

Basically, they extended my arm across the plate as they usually do for a mammo. and compressed the area of tissue under my arm and side of chest..not the front of my chest at all....