Mammo, how soon after 1st bc dx?
 

I have stage IIIA bc and some already know. I wanted to do have a modified radical mastectomy of BOTH breast when I had the first one removed as I just wanted them gone so I didn't have to worry and go through extra surgery's. My husband agreed.

I asked my surgeon at the time if it would travel from the one breast to the other one? He said "no...that usually doesn't happen". I told him I would feel better just having them both removed at the same time. He didn't agree with me so I just had the one with the tumor removed.

But now I am almost at the end of my chemo...six treatments. I wanted to know WHEN you should have a follow up mammo of the breast that is left? I am so worried about that one getting it after going through all this.

When did your oncologist suggest you get a mammo on the breast you have left? I have had two oncologist at this group...and in the six months neither of them have even given me a physical exam of my *good* breast? I thought they would by now? Neither have even had me get undressed to check nodes under arm or where my orignally mastectomy is. Is this normal? (Maybe it is...but I have had concerns and I sure wish they would look.)

Its almost time to go back and see my surgeon...at least he will look at me. Does your oncologist EVER have you undress and exam your incision, nodes, & upper body in genral to make sure all is ok?

Chelee

My onc exams me from the waist up during each visit, node area, mastectomy site and good breast. He also checks my legs to assure that there is no swelling which could indicate blood clots in them. I see him every three weeks.
I had a repeat mamo of the remaining breast just recently. Last mamo (the one that found my cancer) was May 2005, surgery/mastectomy Oct 2005 so had a repeat mamo a year after my diagnosing one.
Bobbi

Chelee,
I saw my breast surgeon every 3 months post mast. and saw my onc, and they both examined me from the waist up. She ordered a mam on the other breast every 6 months for the first 2 yrs following surgery.

Hi Bobbi, & Kisten. Thanks for your replies as I am really curious about how many others are getting checked out when they go into see their oncologist? I don't know what the norm is per se. I see my oncologist almost weekly due to my full cycle chemo and then weekly herceptin and she never ever checks me out?

Just today I went in for my last full cycle of chemo and she seemed rushed as always and I said "Hang on one minute please." I showed her this new slightly enlarged deal growning underneath my collerbone I am really worried about. I showed it to her...then she says "keep an eye on it for me and let me know if it gets worse". She said it could just be there from my surgery as people gain weight on chemo and it just might be a fatty deposit since that spot did NOT show up on my PET/CT scan. But she wouldn't even take a good look at it. She said she didn't have time to look at it right now. I don't know why not...I didn't even have to take my blouse off to see it. Why should I keep an eye on it...she is the doctor...I am trying to keep on top of my cancer...not let it just grow! My husband can see it and he knows it was NOT there before. Five months with two different oncologist & neither one has checked me out? Well...the first guy did at my second appointment come to think of it. But that is it! It had been so long..I forgot. But since I started chemo in Feb...no one has looked at me or my incision, under arms..nothing?

Bobbi you did mention one thing my oncologist HAS done. She has a few times looked at my lower legs because after I landed in the hospital a pulmonary doctor that followed me put me on lasix (Water pills). So she does look at those. But I rather her look at my lymph nodes, and keep an eye on my other breast, etc.

Boy Bobbi, your oncologist sounds great...you get checked every visit. I can't imagine that. I see my doctor 3 times a month and never get checked out. So you had a repeated mammo after a year. And Kisten had one every six months. Maybe mine will bring it up at the end of this month which would be six months? I know either way..I am going to HAVE to mention it to her. I am concerned and want to avoid anymore problems then I have to.

Thanks Kisten for letting me know BOTH your surgeon & oncologist looks at you. Sounds like my oncologist just aren't doing their job. I changed to a new one just for this reason...now it seems like they are both the same way. Its frustrating.

Thanks so much you guys.

Chelee

Chelee
Yes my onc is very good and I do trust him however it was a relationship in the making!!!!! After my mastectomy my surgeon (who I would stand on my head for he is so wonderful!!!!) set me up with my onc. I had to call the oncology department and be a regular pain in the a-- numerous times because the onc was not getting a hold of me in regards to treatment etc. Since that time however we have a great doctor patient relationship (my husband and son were hesitant about him at first as well) and we all trust him fully. You also said that your onc seems to deal with you in a rush. That is unfortunate as you are due your time and should have it to ask and have answered any questions or concerns that you have. My onc is often late to my appts but that is because he has taken additional time with the previous person as I know that he will-and does with me when needed. That being said, it is your body and your health, you have every right to advocate for yourself even if it means being a 'pain in the a--'. That new growth may very well be nothing but you really should have it checked to ease your mind. Would it maybe help for you to jot down any questions that you have so that they are in front of you when you see your onc? That is what I did in the beginning because i was a bit intimidated by my onc and of course a bit leary that he would be crabby about my being a pain in the a--. Instead he seemed to then sit and take the time to fully answer my questions when he knew I had come prepaired.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Bobbi
Your follow up mamo, can you just call your general doc and schedule one? That is what I did and then took the results to my onc.

Chelee,

I am stage IIIC and am just finishing a year of treatment (chemo, mastectomy, radiation, Herceptin). I had my first mamo a year after diagnosis (in April). That seems to be the standard in my clinic. I am also examined every 3 weeks like Bobbi described. We follow up on everything....anything different or suspicious we test. My bloodwork is done weekly and that is also reviewed with me.

I am very sorry to hear about your relationship with your onc. Like Bobbi, my doctor is frequently late and I may wait an hour or two, but he always takes the time to work closely with me. I'm not sure what your options are, but you can certainly schedule your own mamo.

I will be on a six month schedule for mammo's for at least the next two years and then they will reevaluate if it can go to once a year. My doctor stays up on all the research and can always explain the protocol we're following.

Good luck,

Peggy

Hi Chelee,

I'm Stage I and I get a thorough exam from my med onc every three months.
When I have had any question or rash or whatever, he will come see me in the infusion room to chat or check me out in a room. One time he was eating lunch and came out of his office with a sandwich in one hand and he palpated my abdomen with the other.
I think all docs are not created equal and yours might just be one of those detached types. It does not mean your doc is not good at what he/she does, just lacks the warmth we need to feel like we are people and numbers. I would however begin to show the inner b---- that you may have inside and have your neck checked right away. And also ask if you can be checked more often. I can't imagine them turning you down for an appt.

I'm sure it will all work out... keep being your own advocate and insist on better treatment. Its your life!

Maria

My Oncologist has never examined me, although he does scans on me regularly. I'm sure he feels that if there is anything there the CT and PET scans will pick it up. My surgeon has seen me once since my surgery in December and has examined me. My Oncologist does sit and talk with me for quite a while. If I have no questions we talk about fishing or tennis or cycling or something...he's a great guy...sherryg683

I had a mammo at the end of the first year of diagnosis....after my treatments were finished. I see my onc every two months and he examines me fully from the waist up each time. I get blood work taken before each visit including tumor marker. I have a brain scan every three months and a gated heart scan every 2 months....my heart has been an issue. I had a 1 cm tumor in my supraclavicular node which my onc found via physical exam and I certainly would be concerned if I were you. My onc commented at the time that it was his experience that caused him to find it where my surgeon and radiation onc had missed it. See another onc....go to emergency if necessary but if it concerns you check it out....trust yourself.

Cathy

Hi chelee,

My radiation oncologist orders the mammos 1x per year beginning 1 month after rads. My surgeon orders MRI's 1 x per year. She said I could do the MRI with the mammo or stagger it. I'm choosing stagger at this point. I was premenopausal with dense breasts which is why they do the MRi.

My onc does breast exams quite often, every 6 weeks. It will be less, every 3 mos, as I get further out. But with all the docs I see, it sometimes happens that I get checked 4x in 2 weeks.

Your onc may be convinced he knows that your lump isn't a problem. I have a fatty lump on my rear that I keep asking her to look at every time. No harm in asking every doc you see if they think it's a problem. I find it embarassing, but I'm sure the docs don't even think twice about it.

Hang in there, BB