Finding recurrance early does not help?

[RobinP]

Hi Kim,

Immediately after I was diagnosed with bc,my onocologist thought that no regular scans or blood tests should be done for early stage bc. My MD from Dana Farber Cancer Center told me that by the time a blood test or scan would pick something up it would be about the same time that I would have physicial symptoms of a relapse. Also, he felt that such scans would increase my anxiety and decrease my quality of life unnecessarily. I didn't exactly follow his recommendations. I used to do yearly CEA tests, MRIs to the head, and liver enzyme tests. However, now that I am almost five years out, the only tests that I do regularly are the liver enymes. I think I feel alot more cancer free with less stress since I have reduced the witch hunt and vigilence.

PS. Let me just say if I weren't early stage, my approach would be different. I think if I were later stage, like III, I would be more vigilent with blood tests and the works.