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Following-up

hedgpeth27
hedgpeth27 CSN Member Posts: 11
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I have/had Mucoepidermoid of my right parotid gland. It was Intermediate grade and after sending the slides to MD Anderson they ruled I would not need radiation therapy. Thank the Lord. Now my biggest fear is reccurence. I see my ENT doc today and it has gone back and forth as to who will do the long term follow-up. The ENT doc says the Rad-Onc and the Rad-Onc says ENT. I just want to make sure the damn thing doesn't come back and am sacred that it's going to, I mean the chances were slim I'd get this kind of cancer to begin with. What do you think? Who should I be following up with? How often should they do a CT scan? Since the tumor was in my superficial parotid gland where I could actually feel it and now that lobe is gone, how will I know it's back? I just want to be sure I ask the right questions and that I stay on top of it. My kids are only 6 and 9, I'd like to see them at 46 and 49 you know.
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Comments

  • ratface
    ratface CSN Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    Ideally
    You should see them alternately every six months. You should also keep your GP in the loop. If I had to choose one then it probably would come down to who I trust the most or had more experience with my cancer. They can both order and read scans. Use the GP for bloodwork.
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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 CSN Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    ENT Long Term
    Like the schedule mentioned above...

    My Dx was STGIII SCC Tonsil HPV+..the first year I saw my ENT every 3 months, my Chemo MD every 4 months and my Rads MD every 6 months.

    Now two years out, I still see my ENT every 4 months and my Chemo MD every 6 months, Rads gave me the all clear from him after the first year.

    I would opt for the ENT as mine scopes me, pokes, probes and orders the CT's and PETs...he's very proactive. My Chemo MD is mainly by blood work MD.

    Anyways, best of luck to you....

    Thoughts and Prayers,
    John
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  • Greend
    Greend CSN Member Posts: 678
    #4
    same issue
    I finally started routing EVERYTHING through my GP. Every time I see a specialist I make certain GP gets copies of doctors notes. Fact is I trust him the most.
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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 CSN Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    Greend said:

    same issue
    I finally started routing EVERYTHING through my GP. Every time I see a specialist I make certain GP gets copies of doctors notes. Fact is I trust him the most.

    GP
    I do tend to see my GP...at my facility they are all connected informationally within the computer system.

    I have found that my GP (while very good as a GP), tends to refer me to my ENT or Chemo MD if he remotely thinks it's H&N Cancer or residually related.

    I tend to think he's afraid of stepping on the more specialized MD's toes....

    JG
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  • hedgpeth27
    hedgpeth27 CSN Member Posts: 11
    #6
    Thanks guys for all the
    Thanks guys for all the help. Your advice greatly helps. The rad-onc doc pretty much said just call if I needed him, like he was completely signing off. He is the one I really liked the most. The most reassuring and personable. I do know the ENT better and completely trust his judgement. When I showed up for my appointment today he was out on an emergency and I was rescheduled to Monday morning. That sucked. I have so far had everything sent to my GP and he is the most convenient so I'll probably be pretty cautious and see him over every little thing at least this next fall and winter.
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