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04-23-2007, 06:02 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
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?s on Follow-up with surgeon
After my lumpectomy in December, my surgeon's office scheduled a follow-up appointment for April 17th. They called that afternoon, said the doctor had been in surgery and wouldn't be able to see me, so they would reschedule. Called me a couple of days later to reschedule for April 25th. I called them last week requesting a referral to another oncologist. Was told just to call the oncologist, that I didn't need a referral. Called the oncologist's office. They said I needed a referral from the surgeon's office. Called the surgeon's office again and relayed that info. The nurse said she could certainly do that, and by the way, the surgeon felt that he didn't really need to see me for the follow-up visit. He would see me in December, which is, of course, a year after my surgery. I don't understand why he would schedule a follow-up visit for four months after surgery and then decide it wasn't necessary. To be honest, I don't think I do need to see him. I believe I have healed just fine. Just seemed funny to me that he would cancel a follow-up visit that at one time, he must have felt was necessary.
Just wondering what others have experienced with their surgeon.
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04-23-2007, 07:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I had my surgery June of 2006 and I currently see my surgeon every 3 months. I see her in May and I don't know what the schedule will be after that.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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04-23-2007, 07:26 PM
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#3
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Guest
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Like Kate, every three months.
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04-23-2007, 07:30 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: southern california
Posts: 287
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I only saw my surgeon 2 times after my mastectomy. Once a week after for a check on how things were doing and again 2 weeks after that for drain removal. I think he was aware that if I had a problem that I would contact him. I also think he knew I was in good hands with my onc, they work together on many cases.
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04-23-2007, 07:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Not sure why but my surgeon sees me every three months after the lumpectomy. I get my muga, see the surgeon and the oncologist the same day. If all is well another 4 Herceptin infusions. I am finished with chemo and at the half way point of radiation.
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Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
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04-23-2007, 07:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 96
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I had my surgery in July 05. Initially I saw him every 3 mos, but now I see him every 6 months on the same day as my mamogram. I get my mamogram, take the films and then go to his office for a follow up appt. I believe this is the schedule I will follow with him for the full 5 years. After that I believe he does 1/year.
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age 37 @ dx 7/21/05: IDC 1.5cm, grade III, Stage 1c, ER /PR+, HER2+,
7/29/05: Partial Mastectomy
dx 8/15/05: Papillary Thyroid Cancer
9/15/05: Total Thyroidectomy
A/C X 4 DD, 11 weekly Taxol + Herceptin, + 9 mos Herceptin Alone, 36x Rads, Lupron, Aromasin
7/29/07: 2 years NED :)
8/6/07 Oopherectomy (Lupron no more! :-)
Aromasin & Estring plus Synthroid and supplements
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04-23-2007, 09:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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I had my surgery (mastectomy) and went in weekly to have the drained checked until it was ready to be removed. Once it was removed I saw my surgeon about every 3 months the first year.
It seems strange that your surgeon wouldn't want to have at least one follow-up with you to make sure everything looks ok? Maybe he just assumes you would make an appt and come in if you felt something was wrong? I am assuming you did not have a SNB? (Meaning no nodes involved?) If they were clean he is probably figures your onc would notice any problems & bring them to your attention. Hang in there.
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.
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04-23-2007, 09:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 138
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I saw my surgeon every three months for 2 years and now every six months.
Karen
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04-24-2007, 01:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 50
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My surgeon will see me every 3 months for a year, then every 6 months for 5 years and then annually for life. I had a lumpectomy and LOVE my surgeon. I'm undergoing chemo now, so don't know what the follow up schedule will be for onc. or rads.
{{Hugs}}
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Susan in VA
Determined to be a VICTOR not VICTIM - by the grace of God!
DX 2/8/07 at 48
1.75 cm IDC in left breast, Stage 1
Grade 3, ER-/PR-/HER 3+
Lumpectomy 3/7/07, 5/5 nodes clear, clear margins
Starting TCH on 4/9/07, every 3 weeks X 4 treatments - Completed on 6/12/2007
33 rads to began 7/2/07 and completed on 8/22/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until April '08
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04-24-2007, 08:15 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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I saw my surgeon every 3 months for the year following surgery. Don't know if I still need to see a surgeon, my oncologist thinks not...my surgeon passed away in February. When he died it was almost as bad as losing my father!
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 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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04-24-2007, 10:37 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 9
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I never saw my surgeon again after my bilateral.He wasn't a breast surgeon (lol he is head of the Trauma unit) but he did a wonderful job.My tumor was on bottom and I have a "pucker cut".I had tissue expanders put in during surgery so my PS just followed my care(he still does).
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04-24-2007, 02:00 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 138
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Didn't think I'd see my surgeon again except to get my port removed, but found out that he DOES have a follow-up plan. Saw him today (after my post-rads mammogram last week), and he says I'll see him every 6 months for the first 3-5 years (and my oncologist every 6 months too). After that, it'll go to once/year unless I have a recurrance. He IS a breast surgeon, so he checks my mammogram and ultrasound films and does a manual exam of nodes and breasts. Very thorough.
Turns out I have a seroma (surgery was 8 months ago). Since it's not bothering me much, we're going to wait until September (5 more months) and see how it does. Will get another mammogram/ultrasound then too. If it's not majorly smaller, he's going to probably aspirate it then. And that's when he'll remove my port as well.
It's so nice to have a PLAN. I actually relaxed when I left his office -- I felt "watched", so I didn't have to worry myself. He really is thorough.
Janet
__________________
Janet in Rowlett Texas
Dx July 2006 IDC 1.8cm, ER-/PR- HER2+ (FISH 7), KI67 High (60%) grade 3, TOPO II neg
Aug2006: lumpectomy, SNB (4 nodes neg), Stage 1
Jan 2007: Finished 6 cycles of TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Her ceptin). Then Herceptin every 3 weeks.
Feb 2007: Completed Radiation
May 2007: Stopped Herceptin due to low LVEF (49%)
July 2007: LVEF now 44% -- starting Coreg
May 2008: Heart NORMAL! Yippee.
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