Post treatment scans - what is your philosophy?

[AlaskaAngel]

Paris,

I like your last post because I think it is such a great one for those who are new to bc to read. Being diagnosed is very much like being Alice in Wonderland, trying to make sense out of things that make very little sense! Keep asking the questions that are logical to YOU regardless of how crazy it seems.

If you can, do a search for dlaxague's past posts on this topic. The major past discussion on this board is on this link:

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...ighlight=scans

She and I differ in some aspects about the answer to your questions, but I think she provides some good info and insights into the logic about the questions you are asking.

AlaskaAngel

[John21]

I would still get scans every 3 months. If you wait for symptoms, then it is probably not going to so great. I believe in prevention.

[dlaxague]

Ellen Mahoney MD wrote this discussion in 2000, but it seems current and applicable, except that she could not include that NCCN and ASCO updated their recommendations last year but did not change their recommendations for follow up of primary breast cancer (still no scans nor markers recommended) because there is no evidence to support a change in those recommendations (all the studies that we have available show no advantage (to survival time and quality of life) to detecting a recurrence before symptoms announce it.

It's a long discussion but covers the topic fully and presents all sides. Well worth your time if this topic interests you.

http://tinyurl.com/3b7eqq