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Re: Follow up care after chemo complete/ scans
My oncologist also did not believe in routine scans. During the year I received herceptin, I had routine blood work, including MUGA scans. Tumor markers were done during this time. I continued to see my oncologist quarterly for years 3+4 post treatment...with blood work, including tumor markers. Year 5 I saw her twice, and then was "released" . It felt like my lifeline was severed!!! My oncologist told me that I could make an appointment any time, she would order any scans, blood work, etc. As time goes on I am more comfortable with no oncologist, scans, etc. At my last regular doctor's visit I asked, any had, tumor markers done...normal. At first it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that I shouldn't worry as long as I was asymptomatic...after all, I was asymptomatic when I was first diagnosed!!! And as far as not "worrying", HA!!!I still worry about every little twinge. And I have gone to the ER on more than one occasion with symptoms...dizziness and nausea (sure it was recurrence to brain) was really a bad case of vertigo. Burning pain and numbness ( sure it was tumor pressing on spine) was really SHINGLES. You get the picture! That is another reason I love this support group...we all "get it"!!!
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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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