Our \'monitoring\' regimen

[jojo]

Caroline, it seems like we are being monitored by the opposite ends. Meaning, I get scans every 3 months and rarely tumor markers (only once at recurrence diagnosis so far); actually I get head MRI's every 3 months, and body scans approximately every 6 months. And you get tumor markers every month and scans every year. Interesting, huh?? Do you get scans every year because your cancer type is slow growing???

Can you tell me further about your cancer type? Are you ER/PR strongly positive? What stage were you previously your mets diagnosis?

Talk more later... my dog is calling for his favorite daily walk! :-)

[Caroline]

Jo Jo

I am 38 (soon to be 39) and my cancer was discovered April 02 and soon after that I was discovered to have mets in my spine. I had mastectomy (before mets were discovered)and a choice about chemo, after thinking long and hard I opted for Tamoxifen plus monthly Pamidronate (Aredia). I should say that my cancer is grade 3, hormone positive and HER2+++, apparently very aggressive. I also had an ovarian ablation to cut down on my hormone levels. I did okay, but Tamoxifen did not really do it for me and markers continued rising. So at the start of this year I got my onc to start me on Herceptin plus Arimidex (something currently being trialled here in the UK - not sure if it's standard treatment in the US). THis has done well for me so far, but will have to choose again soon about chemo (which I have never had) or more hormonals (faslodex).
The thing about markers I think, is that accuracy varies - mine seem to reflect pretty accurately what is going on therefore we use those as an indicator. Personally I would hate to have scans so often as I hate to feel "medicalised" if you know what I mean! However in any case, being in the UK means that we are treated by the NHS who probably do not want to fork out unless there is a reason to suspect a problem or a period of 10-12 months has elapsed.
Interesting to hear about your monitoring, am assuming you are in US. Is this correct?
Love and Healing
Caroline xxx

[jojo]

Caroline, I live in Northern California.

Onc's tend to give us patients hormone suppressors first before handling out chemo ("big-guns"), because they want us to have better quality of life. You know how stronger chemo's could throw us off-track big time.

In US, Faslodex is considered "second-line" therapy, after either Tamoxifen / Femara is not found to be successful, i.e. disease progression. Don't know anything about Arimidex, though.

Any questions, you are welcome to email me anytime. Good luck! Sending warm hugs from here to there.