How often should I have a mamogram?

fandaj
fandaj Member Posts: 81
in Breast Cancer #1
In December 2007 I had a lumpectomy for DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). No lymph nodes were involved. After surgery I had 45 radiation treatments, no chemotherapy. I took Tamoxifen for about 6 months and then stopped. I have been getting bilateral diagnostic mamograms every 6 months and see my oncologist every 6 months also. At my last doctor appointment, the oncologist said to see her only once a year. I just had a mamogram last week and a sonogram (I have a small cyst on the non-cancer breast) and the radiologist doctor said I should only have mamograms once a year. My oncologist agrees. What have your doctors told you.

P.S. I have also had colon cancer in 2003 and malanoma in 2008.

Thanks for listening. Arlene

Comments

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #2
    Mammogram frequency
    Hi Arlene,

    In February 2010 I had a right mastectomy. Prior to that I had a complete axillary dissection where 2 of 22 lymph nodes were were positive for cancer. I then had 16 rounds of chemo. No radiation. My medical oncologist as well as my ob/gyn said I needed to have a mammogram only once a year. I imagine others will post whose doctors want more frequent mammograms. IRENE
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #3
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Mammogram frequency
    Hi Arlene,

    In February 2010 I had a right mastectomy. Prior to that I had a complete axillary dissection where 2 of 22 lymph nodes were were positive for cancer. I then had 16 rounds of chemo. No radiation. My medical oncologist as well as my ob/gyn said I needed to have a mammogram only once a year. I imagine others will post whose doctors want more frequent mammograms. IRENE

    Arlene ... Insist on having 1 every 6 months if this will
    give you a piece of mind and Insurance permitting - Be you own best advocate. Your body, your health! MRI may be the way to go.

    Breast cancer detection: MRI vs. mammogram? Check out the multiple trials on both -- available on line ...

    Strength and Courage,

    Vicki Sam
  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #4
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Mammogram frequency
    Hi Arlene,

    In February 2010 I had a right mastectomy. Prior to that I had a complete axillary dissection where 2 of 22 lymph nodes were were positive for cancer. I then had 16 rounds of chemo. No radiation. My medical oncologist as well as my ob/gyn said I needed to have a mammogram only once a year. I imagine others will post whose doctors want more frequent mammograms. IRENE

    I had a lumpectomy on
    I had a lumpectomy on Aug.2010 and 33 rads finished on Nov.2010. Took arimidex for a couple months and couldn't tolerate it. So stopped and onoc didn't put me on anything else as yet. She said I would have a mammo in Aug. 2011.

    One other reason I answered you is I have a question.... i have to go in for the dreaded colon test. Blood was found in my stools. I may be jumping the gun but what was your colon cancer like,,,, tests, surgery and whatever else. I am so worried. Not having the test for 5=6 weeks. I am so nervous about it that I can't handle it right now. Not knowing is making it worse. Just can't seem to get a hold of this. Doctor says it could be nothing but who knows. One cancer and then another. I am so upset. Please let me know if you can. Thank You, Diana
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #5
    I always did yearlys until
    I had microcalcifications 2 years in a row with stereotactic biopsies (on the right side) so I had the right done every 6 months and the left every year. Guess which side had bc? The left, of course. Now it's every 6 months for me - forever, if I have my way.

    Sue
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #6
    Arlene, you have really been
    Arlene, you have really been dodging bullets left and right. What an inspiration you are! I didn't have DCIS; I have Stage 3A, now Stage IV, so I can't advise. But I wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers.
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #7
    Arlene
    I also had a lumpectomy with no node involvement. I did 33 rads and no chemo. I finished treatment in July 2010. I had a mammo in Jan. 2011 and was told I did not need to have another for a year. I would say if you feel more comfortable getting one every 6 months then that is what you should do.

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441 Member
    #8
    mammogram schedule
    Hi Arlene. I had lumpectomy 7/09 and brachytherapy rads the first week of September 2009. No node testing and no chemo. Both my oncologist and radiation oncologist want a 6 month mammo of the cancer affected breast and a yearly of the contralateral breast. They disagree over whether or not I need MRI and/or ultrasounds of either/both! Sheesh!
    ~~Connie~~
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #9
    I'm IBC - my Drs want a
    I'm IBC - my Drs want a yearly Mammo. My Surgeon (and Rads) never want to see me again - as long as I see my PA every 6 mths (not a prob.) and get yearly mammos (sent to them in addition to her). I see my Chemo guy in July or Aug. - dont' know what he will say then - last time i saw him he was on the same boat of yearly Mammos.
  • fandaj
    fandaj Member Posts: 81
    #10
    gagee said:

    I had a lumpectomy on
    I had a lumpectomy on Aug.2010 and 33 rads finished on Nov.2010. Took arimidex for a couple months and couldn't tolerate it. So stopped and onoc didn't put me on anything else as yet. She said I would have a mammo in Aug. 2011.

    One other reason I answered you is I have a question.... i have to go in for the dreaded colon test. Blood was found in my stools. I may be jumping the gun but what was your colon cancer like,,,, tests, surgery and whatever else. I am so worried. Not having the test for 5=6 weeks. I am so nervous about it that I can't handle it right now. Not knowing is making it worse. Just can't seem to get a hold of this. Doctor says it could be nothing but who knows. One cancer and then another. I am so upset. Please let me know if you can. Thank You, Diana

    colon cancer
    Hi Diana, I had my first colonoscopy because I had a low blood count and was unable to donate blood after several tries. The colonoscopy found I had stage 2 cancer in the large intestine. About 1/3 of my colon was removed. I do not and never had to have an ostomy, but I do have a smaller colon so I have bowel movements slightly more ofter than I used to.I had 36 chemo treatments, once a week for six weeks, then three weeks off. The chemo wasn't bad and I didn't lose my hair and it didn't make me sick. Since I was diagnosed I have had a colonoscopy every single year. The cancer society recommends that you can skip a year after you have three clean results. My doctor disagreed. This was the first year since 2003 that I have not had a colonoscopy. The test itself is a piece of cake. Drinking the prep the day before is another story. It really tastes bad. When you have the actual test, the technician has you lay on your side, fluff up your pillow and the next thing you know, you wake up in the recovery room. I have never had any discomfort after the test.

    Good luck and thanks for answering my question. If you have any other questions, the colon cancer section of this website helped me a lot. Also, feel free to write to me again.

    Arlene
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #11
    fandaj said:

    colon cancer
    Hi Diana, I had my first colonoscopy because I had a low blood count and was unable to donate blood after several tries. The colonoscopy found I had stage 2 cancer in the large intestine. About 1/3 of my colon was removed. I do not and never had to have an ostomy, but I do have a smaller colon so I have bowel movements slightly more ofter than I used to.I had 36 chemo treatments, once a week for six weeks, then three weeks off. The chemo wasn't bad and I didn't lose my hair and it didn't make me sick. Since I was diagnosed I have had a colonoscopy every single year. The cancer society recommends that you can skip a year after you have three clean results. My doctor disagreed. This was the first year since 2003 that I have not had a colonoscopy. The test itself is a piece of cake. Drinking the prep the day before is another story. It really tastes bad. When you have the actual test, the technician has you lay on your side, fluff up your pillow and the next thing you know, you wake up in the recovery room. I have never had any discomfort after the test.

    Good luck and thanks for answering my question. If you have any other questions, the colon cancer section of this website helped me a lot. Also, feel free to write to me again.

    Arlene

    ' Piece of cake' - not for everyone
    I'm IBC - my PA thought I should get a Colonscopy - so I did. IT was about the worst 'thing' I've gone through. I have been told to never do another Colonoscope - IF there is a reason to be concerned (other than I'm IBC) then do a barium enema.

    When I talked with the DR who did my colonosocpy, we talked about that there was a 1 in 10,000 chance that something 'might' happen where the colon was 'broken'. Nope - that didn't happen - I was in 'recovery' for hours - Hubby was sitting in the 'waiting room' for hours.

    Would I would say that no one should ever do a Colonscopy - NO WAY - but for some it is not just an "OH Well!

    Susan
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #12
    @6 mths
    I have both breasts done one visit and next time just the one with BC...I have been doing this since 2008! I JUST got the ok with my Rad. onologist to only be seen by her once a year instead of every 6mths.

    our DCIS and treatments sounds almost the same..i was on tamox for just over 2 1/2 yrs and taken off..now waiting game (2mths) of what to try next

    Denise
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #13
    sbmly53 said:

    I always did yearlys until
    I had microcalcifications 2 years in a row with stereotactic biopsies (on the right side) so I had the right done every 6 months and the left every year. Guess which side had bc? The left, of course. Now it's every 6 months for me - forever, if I have my way.

    Sue

    I had a lumpectomy with rads
    I had a lumpectomy with rads and have a mammo and ultrasound every six months now.


    Leeza
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #14
    ladyg said:

    Arlene
    I also had a lumpectomy with no node involvement. I did 33 rads and no chemo. I finished treatment in July 2010. I had a mammo in Jan. 2011 and was told I did not need to have another for a year. I would say if you feel more comfortable getting one every 6 months then that is what you should do.

    Hugs,
    Georgia

    My schedule is to have an
    My schedule is to have an ultrasound and mammogram every six months. I don't know when that will change, or, if it will.


    Prayers for you,


    Sue :)
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #15
    Rague said:

    ' Piece of cake' - not for everyone
    I'm IBC - my PA thought I should get a Colonscopy - so I did. IT was about the worst 'thing' I've gone through. I have been told to never do another Colonoscope - IF there is a reason to be concerned (other than I'm IBC) then do a barium enema.

    When I talked with the DR who did my colonosocpy, we talked about that there was a 1 in 10,000 chance that something 'might' happen where the colon was 'broken'. Nope - that didn't happen - I was in 'recovery' for hours - Hubby was sitting in the 'waiting room' for hours.

    Would I would say that no one should ever do a Colonscopy - NO WAY - but for some it is not just an "OH Well!

    Susan

    My mammogram is done now
    My mammogram is done now every six months. I still see my rads oncologist every 4 months.


    Lex
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #16
    Rague said:

    I'm IBC - my Drs want a
    I'm IBC - my Drs want a yearly Mammo. My Surgeon (and Rads) never want to see me again - as long as I see my PA every 6 mths (not a prob.) and get yearly mammos (sent to them in addition to her). I see my Chemo guy in July or Aug. - dont' know what he will say then - last time i saw him he was on the same boat of yearly Mammos.

    I have mammos on both
    I have mammos on both breasts and just an ultrasound on the breast that had cancer every six months.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #17
    disneyfan2008 said:

    @6 mths
    I have both breasts done one visit and next time just the one with BC...I have been doing this since 2008! I JUST got the ok with my Rad. onologist to only be seen by her once a year instead of every 6mths.

    our DCIS and treatments sounds almost the same..i was on tamox for just over 2 1/2 yrs and taken off..now waiting game (2mths) of what to try next

    Denise

    I am still on the every 6
    I am still on the every 6 months for mammos. I see my rads oncologist every 3 months.


    Jan

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