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Chelee · 02-05-2008, 12:54 AM

Goops, Since I am a stage III'er with 5 positive nodes & was NOT able to have rads, I believe that caused me even more stress to get the 6 month scans . You mentioned feeling like the follow-ups might cause you more added anxiety. Your not alone as many of the women feel this way and choose not to have scans unless they have symptoms. We all have to do what we are comfortable with. Some don't even like to do tumor markers...we are all different.

Myself I've had a really bad sharp pain just below my right rib that radiates downwards and its really starting to worry me. So for me a scan is the only thing that really helps ease my mine. In fact this is the *first* time I've went passed my 6 month PET/CT. I wanted to be checked more the first two yrs since I was told I was at a high recurrance rate. I was feeling a little more secure this time and that's how i managed to make it 9 months without a PET/CT this time. (Big step for me.) I really don't like the added exposure to all the radiation from the scans...but I feel better when I get the all clear...especially when I have pain like I am now.

So in time you will learn to do what makes you the least anxious...be it scans or no scans. Just learn to take one day at a time. (Easier said then done...believe me...I know.) One last thing...you mentioned feeling more stressed when you finished chemo. That is SO normal. I felt that same way and most of the women and men here will tell you the same thing. It makes you feel like your not doing anything to keep *it* away. Its scary at first but it DOES get better as time goes on...this I promise you.

Chelee

02-05-2008, 12:54 AM	#11
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Goops, Since I am a stage III'er with 5 positive nodes & was NOT able to have rads, I believe that caused me even more stress to get the 6 month scans . You mentioned feeling like the follow-ups might cause you more added anxiety. Your not alone as many of the women feel this way and choose not to have scans unless they have symptoms. We all have to do what we are comfortable with. Some don't even like to do tumor markers...we are all different. Myself I've had a really bad sharp pain just below my right rib that radiates downwards and its really starting to worry me. So for me a scan is the only thing that really helps ease my mine. In fact this is the *first* time I've went passed my 6 month PET/CT. I wanted to be checked more the first two yrs since I was told I was at a high recurrance rate. I was feeling a little more secure this time and that's how i managed to make it 9 months without a PET/CT this time. (Big step for me.) I really don't like the added exposure to all the radiation from the scans...but I feel better when I get the all clear...especially when I have pain like I am now. So in time you will learn to do what makes you the least anxious...be it scans or no scans. Just learn to take one day at a time. (Easier said then done...believe me...I know.) One last thing...you mentioned feeling more stressed when you finished chemo. That is SO normal. I felt that same way and most of the women and men here will tell you the same thing. It makes you feel like your not doing anything to keep it away. Its scary at first but it DOES get better as time goes on...this I promise you. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.