Follow up visits

[Janet]

Hi all,

I am about to finish radiation following AC+T adjuvant chemotherapy. I don't have mets. How often should I be doing follow up tests. The onc said he wanted to see me every 3 months for the first year. He said he would only do the regular blood tests and tumor marker tests ( CEA and CA 15-3).

I thought that I would have regular CT, bone, and MRI's scans, but he said we would only do these if there are symptoms or abnormal markers. I was disappointed that we would not be doing proactive scans. Tumor marker are so unreliable.

What follow-up treatment are you all on?

Thanks

Janet

[imported_Joe]

Janet,

That is almost standard procedure for Stage I and II bc patients.

Christine's oncologist told her "You know your body, better than anyone else."

If you have any suspicions or concerns, see your oncologist as soon as possible.

Warmest Regards
Joe

[Kristen]

It is frustrating. Joe is right, they don't usually do anything more. You can look it up at ASCO.

I find it wrong. I didn't know I had BC in the first place, my DR. found it. As Joe said you know your body better than anyone, it is hard to trust your body again. I guess when something is really wrong I will know. But the uncertainty of it can drive you crazy when you first go off treatment.

I have recently had these same talks with my doctors and friends. You feel like you want some control over something you have no control over. I had to ask my Onc to please do TM"S. I am however on a study and they require a chest x-ray once a year and my surgeon wants a mamm every 6 months for 2 years. I see my onc every 3 months as do you for the blood work and TM's. I've been on headache meds for years and my neurologist wants to see me every 3 months and do an MRI of the brain every 6 mths.

This is scary stuff. I am scared to. I went to a friends support group and these women were amazing. They gave me this advice and I think it does help. BC is going to go through your brain every couple of minutes. You will ask yourself, is that pain or lump anything to worry about. And that is what Joe and everyone is meaning when they say you know your body. If it last longer than 2 weeks, see your onc. As time goes on and you stay ned, these women have had mets and some are NED and are 10 years out and it still goes through there brain maybe once a month. So what I am trying to say is it is a process and only one that you can go through and with time and help it will get better. It helped me tremedously to talk about this to alot of women. Some on this board. Yes TM's are not always reliable, but nothing in this is. So try and get through this period, as all things time will hopefully heal us and the longer we stay NED the less we will have thoughts about BC going through our brains. I am right beside you thinking the same things. Take Care k