Almost 3 years since treatment ended and still no scans?

Hello Stranger!  How nice it is to see you back here--love your new pic! 

Okay, I am most likely an exception to the rule regarding follow-up scans, so please do not think that your doctors are remiss after I tell you that I have been run through the scan machine (both PET and CT) so many times, I ought to glow in the dark!  Actually, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for follow-up of anal cancer do not recommend any scans post-treatment, except in cases of tumors stage T3-T4 or where inguinal nodes were positive.  In those cases, chest/abdominal/pelvic imaging is recommended for 3 years post-treatment.

I do not recall what your stage at the time of diagnosis was, but unless you were T3 or T4 or had nodal involvement, you really haven't needed any scans.  I do not want anyone to judge their follow-up care by mine (it's rather complicated).  You are being followed correctly, IMO.  However, if you really need the peace of mind a scan can give you, then I hope your doctor will oblige.  If you are doing well and feeling great, don't worry about not getting approval for one.

How exciting that you are moving to NYC!  I wish you all the best with your move and may you continue to enjoy excellent health!

Martha 

Hi Chris,

You look fantastic. So glad to see. It's hard to believe you are coming up on three years. Good for you.

Martha is the expert on the guidelines. I think I must be glowing also, I've had so many scans, but I was clearly stage 3b with inguinal and iliac node involvement. 

Good for you for being an advocate for yourself.

I understand how you could be dreaming about tumors, etc. I dreamt one night I was getting eaten alive by kittens once! How weird! But it was around the spookiness of scanxiety as I was having scans one year, then six months, then less than three months because of something that is related apparently to mold rather than cancer. Scans show a lot of false positives so maybe you are better off not having to have them particularly if your cancer wasn't advanced.

I'm in New York too. Although this is a really big state.

Are you moving to the Big Apple?

All the best to you,

Sandy

HI Chris, I am on the newbie end as far as treatment my last treatment was the end of June and I had an MRI 3 months post treatment. Not sure what my future scan plan will be but I am glad I had that one to see that the treatment was effective. Let us know what's happening. Good luck with your findings.

qv62 said:

Chris Ptown

HI Chris, I am on the newbie end as far as treatment my last treatment was the end of June and I had an MRI 3 months post treatment. Not sure what my future scan plan will be but I am glad I had that one to see that the treatment was effective. Let us know what's happening. Good luck with your findings.

this isn't advice, it's just what I do for follow up. Nothing. I'm two years post Dx and something less than that post Tx. I was stage one, had one analscope six months post Tx and that's it.  I assume it's gone and won't recur, don't go for follow ups and in fact, avoid doctors all together. I don't worry about it and don't think about it much. As I said, I don't recommend my approach, it's just what I do. Not sure if this post is about follow-up or place of residence (or both) but for whatever it's worth, I was born in Manhattan, live in Manhattan and expect to die in Manhattan, hopefully, not in the immediate future.  Cancer doesn't worry me; my main concern is that we don't get decimated by another winter from hell. That, and the horrifying way in which the world seems to be unraveling.  Anyhow, as I said, I'm not advocating for, or recommending what I'm doing vis a vis follow-up; I'm just reporting it.

mp327 said:

LaCh

Everyone should do what makes them comfortable. 

However, for anyone who hasn't been on this board for very long, I would like to remind them that follow-ups can and do catch things very early, which can mean avoiding recurrence.  Case in point:  At exactly 2 years post-treatment, I had my regular follow-up exam, at which time my colorectal doc found 3 very small condylomas (internal anal warts) which had the potential of becoming cancerous if left untreated or not removed.  I had outpatient surgery for removal and fortunately, the biopsies came back negative.  My doctor can look up my butt as often as necessary to keep me from going through the hell of this cancer again.  That is just my opinion.

Since La Cha was Stage 1 she may feel more comfortable with her decisions.

Mike