First one in almost 16 months.

[Mary Jo]

Well, I met with my radiation oncologist today for a 6 month follow up visit. I asked him a couple questions.........the first one is if he has seen women who have had adjuvent chemo/herceptin along with taxol - had PET/CT scan that were all clear at time of diagnosis and have recurrence already and he said yes, he has seen that. I didn't like hearing that. But, of course, I knew it must have happened. Then I asked him his thoughts on PET/CT scans when there were no mets at diagnosis. (my onc. doesn't believe in them BUT this was my radiation oncologist). I went on to explain to him that it doesn't seem logical to me to wait for symptoms. That by the time symptoms show up the cancer is usually more advanced. He said he agreed with me and that his normal course of treatment is a scan 6 months after treatment and then 6 months later. Because my cancer treatment wasn't done here this wasn't brought up to me by him because if he would have ordered me a PET/CT scan it would have had to be done here as he is not a physician where I go (Froedtert and Medical College in Milwaukee Wisconsin) I told him my initial PET/CT scan was done 11 days after my diagnosis here in my city - Sheboygan Wisconsin. I asked him if he'd order me one for here and he said he most definitely would. So.................this Saturday morning I will be having one. My last PET/CT scan was done July 5, 2005. My mastectomy was July 28, 2005 - so 18 months since surgery will be my 2nd PET/CT scan. My chemo ended 1 year ago on Nov. 30, 2005 and my years worth of herceptin ended Oct. 11, 2006 so I feel I am having PET/CT scan at a good time HOWEVER I am very afraid at this point. You want to think there's no way you're going to hear any bad news BUT we all know since our orginal dx that bad news does come sometime. I keep reminding myself that I am doing this for my benefit. God forbid there is anything brewing BUT if there is better to know that sooner than later.

So, I was very thankful they could get me in on Saturday morning already. I am soooooooooooooooooo praying that I hear "all was normal" like I heard the first time, July 5, 2005.

Wish me well......

Mary Jo