1rst checkup

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hillbillycat
hillbillycat Member Posts: 79
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone, I had my first checkup with the onc a couple weeks ago and she said all looked fine.She just checked my breast and instead of the usual finger prick ,I had more blood taken. I was just wondering why they took more blood and what they are checking.Does anyone know?
I am in my 3rd week of radiation treatments.I have 3 more to go. Yea!!! I come here and read often ,I just don`t know what to say so I just listen to everyone...

I hope all are doing good......Shirl

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  • krisrey
    krisrey Member Posts: 194
    #2
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    Hi Shirl,
    Long time no talk to...LOL I just wanted to tell you I am glad you are doing well. Radiation does actually end up going by pretty fast.
    I will be one year since my dx on April 11th..and 4 months out of treatment. I have never had blood drawn when I have a doctor appt, so I can't help you there. Just wanted to say Hi..
    Take care Shirl.
    kris
  • I_will_survive
    I_will_survive Member Posts: 31
    #3
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    Hi Shirl,
    I'm a couple weeks done with radiation and have 5 to go yet. I haven't had a check-up with the ono. yet, but when I was going thru chemo they would sometimes draw more blood instead of the finger prick. When I asked why, they said it was for additional testing - particularly liver. I think the finger prick just checks your red and white cell count.

    Congrats on being 1/2 done with the rads! Joni
  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 137
    #4
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    Hi, Shirl. When I was going through chemo they only did finger sticks to test my blood. But now that I'm through with all my treatments and I see the oncologist once every 4 months, they take a few vials of blood each time. They do tumor marker tests (CA15) and another test for liver function and I guess that requires more blood. Isn't is great to be finished with treatment? Good luck.
  • tlmac
    tlmac Member Posts: 272 Member
    #5
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    Hi Shirl, I never had a finger stick. Each week, during chemo, I went for bloodwork and they always drew one vial from my arm. Would have preferred the finger sticks but never knew they were even an option.
    terri
  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #6
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    Hello Shirl:

    Happy to hear that things are going well for you!
    The rads will be over soon and then you're all done and your life will begin to feel more your own again! A great feeling.

    Re the blood work question: I never had the finger stick for any of my tests during chemo or rads. Always drawn from a vein.

    Keep in mind that doctor's are different in follow up procedures across the country and can vary some regionally, even within the same state, etc..

    During chemo, my red and white counts were done and a chemistry profile was also done prior to each treatment. During rads, my blood also was monitored, but only every two weeks. (I had chemo and rads at different facilities)

    Onc. follow up visits still consist of a physical,
    counts are still done, as well as the chemistry profile and CA27-29 (tumor marker test). My onc listens to my heart, lungs and the large arteries in the lower stomach. She checks blood pressure, both my breasts and axilla, feels my ankles, (checking for any swelling) palpates my liver and upper stomach area. She likes a once yearly chest xray but no routine scans, etc.. She looks at my latest mammo films and inquires about what supplements I'm taking, if I'm feeling ok and then wants to know what I've been up to lately and that's pretty much it. She always asks if I have any questions, etc. as I often hit her for an opinion on the latest treatment modalities, etc.. That's about it. She's followed this same procedure since chemo began and nothing has changed to date. I've a friend who sees an onc. in the more northern part of our state and her doc uses pretty much the same follow up procedure.

    My rad onc and surgeon don't do blood work as part of follow ups.

    Hope that helps some and don't hesitate to ask your doctor or the nurse, precisely what your blood will be tested for and also, you're entitled to a copy of the reports from those tests, so if you want them, be sure to let them know.

    Hang in...you're almost DONE!

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink
  • billandpatty
    billandpatty Member Posts: 86
    #7
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    Shirl
    Congratulations on getting through most of your treatments (you're almost there!) ... and after chemo, isn't radiation a breeze??!!!

    As far as check-ups, I've never had the finger prick, always vials of blood. My checkups are pretty much like "Ink's" (she wrote it all down for me!). I'm a 4 year survivor and am just going from every 4 mos. to every 6 mos. for a check up, I assume they'll be the same check-up just further apart.

    My onc. also just asks how I'm feeling -- and according to him, they read alot into your response to that question.

    Take care.

    Patty
  • hillbillycat
    hillbillycat Member Posts: 79
    #8
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    billandpatty said:

    Shirl
    Congratulations on getting through most of your treatments (you're almost there!) ... and after chemo, isn't radiation a breeze??!!!

    As far as check-ups, I've never had the finger prick, always vials of blood. My checkups are pretty much like "Ink's" (she wrote it all down for me!). I'm a 4 year survivor and am just going from every 4 mos. to every 6 mos. for a check up, I assume they'll be the same check-up just further apart.

    My onc. also just asks how I'm feeling -- and according to him, they read alot into your response to that question.

    Take care.

    Patty

    Thanks [everyone] for your comments. Yes I am so glad to almost be finished.!!!!...I will start tomoxafan afterward.
    Nice to hear from you Krisrey!
    Bye ....Shirl

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