follow-up treatment and care

[Bebol]

Hello everyone. I am new here and I am delighted to read your posts.

I am 43 y.o, diagnosed Aug/07 with Stage IIB, ER- PR-, HER2+ Grade 3. I did chemo AC and Taxol, 32 radiation treatments and am now just receiving Herceptin every 3 weeks. I am looking forward to the last treatment day on Dec 12/08.

I came from the Philippines but I sought to be treated here in the US. I am scheduled to go back home as soon as my treatment is over.

But I would like to know: what follow up treatments and tests did your oncologist recommend after your last treatment day, when and how often?

Thanks a lot! Be blessed everyone!

[DonnaD]

Welcome Bebol,
Your treatment timing mirrors mine but one year later!

Many oncs here do not do follow up treatment after Herceptin (except for mammos and mugas) and rely on symtoms for future tests. It felt strange not to be in active treatment but that passes quickly. You will love your freedom. I am sure you are eager to get back to your home. Where are you in the states?

Donna

[goops]

Where I live they would have you come quarterly for the first year and do blood work, they only do CT's if there is a reason to suspect a problem.

[Jackie07]

Bebol,

When you return to your home, would you stop by Taipei and tell my Mom that I am doing fine here? :)

I have a college basketball team member who also had a stage IIB breast cancer surgery more than a year ago. I wonder if you can get the follow-up treatment in Taiwan if not in the US.

Your doctor will be the one that can give you the best advice about follow-up.

[lexigirl]

Hi Bebol,

My follow-up tx is seeing my onc. every few mos. She doesn't order bloodwork for every appt. Scans are only done if I have a persistent pain that doesn't go away.

Congrats on completing your chemo and radiation txs! I hope the herceptin is not too hard on you and Dec. will be here before you know it!

Hugs,
Lexi

[Chelee]

Bebol, Welcome to the board. My follow-up appts are every 3 months...& I am currently 2 yrs & 6 months out from DX. As far as scans go most oncologist don't do them unless you have symptoms. I have pushed to get them because of my stage III status and positive nodes. I also make sure I get a brain MRI at least once a year. But that is not the standard as I mentioned.

It just happens to be my 3 month appt in the morning. So every 3 months I do have my labs a week prior to appt which included a complete CMP, CBC, CA27-29, and FSH & estradiol. Congratulations on getting through treatment. The herceptin will be a peace of cake after what you've been through.

Chelee

[Bebol]

Dear Donna, goops, Jackie07, Lexigirl, Chelee,

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone! Your responses enlightened me a lot. I guess I have to kinda start letting go from wanting to cling to the security of regular treatment, although I do look forward to going back home where my work and life is. I believe "being home" will largely contribute to my healing.

Donna, I am in Clearwater, FL and for some reason, I have not met too many HER2+ sisters down here. So I am glad to be in this site where you are showing me so much strength and tenacity. Hugs to you all!

[Sheila]

Bebol
Welcome to our group...lucky you living in Clearwater...i have flown into the airport there, I have family in St Petersburg....I have no idea why I live in Illinois...Florida is where I feel i would be happiest. One of our group Members, irene, lives in Tampa...pretty close to where you are.
Again, welcome to our group...you will find so much love, understanding, information and great friends who know what you are dealing with...this group is the best!!!!!!!

[Mary Jo]

Hi Bebol,

I would like to welcome you to our support group also. You have found a wonderful place to get encouragement, support and plenty of knowledge from many smart smart sisters and brothers (me not being one of thosehttp://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif) However, I can offer you my encouragement, love and prayers for your journey.

My doc also doesn't do much as far as follow up goes. I am a 3 year NED survivor to date and am on a every 6 month schedule to see my oncologist. He orders basic blood work including liver enyzme and liver function tests. He does a physical exam and talks with me. Scans are ordered if symptoms warrant. My onc. is good about ordering scans if he feels that is what I need or want for peace of mind.

Looking forward to "seeing" more of you on the board.

Love & Peace to you Bebol,

Mary Jo

[Bebol]

Hello everyone. You're right, mary jo, this is really a wonderful group and I am so glad I found you. I find myself spending more and more time looking peering around the posts. It is not only informative but a wonderful source of encouragement and kindness.

Guess what, Sheila? I am now in St. Pete Beach and will be staying here for a few more days with my sister. Don't you love the St. Petersburg area?

Just another question: since I am just doing Herceptin every 3 weeks, I do get to see my onc every 6 wks. She gets me to do a metabolic profile every 3 wks. So far, my blood tests are within normal range. Does that mean I can also declare myself NED like many of you gals? Technically, when do you start saying you're NED? It just thrills me to read that word in your signatures and posts.