Follow up scans

mschaben
mschaben Member Posts: 87
in Breast Cancer #1

I was wondering how many of you have oncologist do follow scans and who doesn't.  My cancer was diagnosed nov 2014.  I had bilateral mastctomy with reconstruction and lymph node removal if 15 nodes.  I had 32 radiation treatments and just finished treatment New Year's Eve day. I also had a hysterectomy nov 30 due to tumors that thankfully were benign.  I see my drs. every three months still.  My onc is set on guidelines of follow scans not making you live longer. Well I understand that but he even tells me he doesn't kniw if treatment worked he just assumes.  And that scans won't increase your longevity of life.  i understand we don't want exposed to radiatin any more than we need to but I. Need a baseline scan to compare to down the road.  he tells me how aggressive my cancer is and I'm at high risk for recurrence but yet quotes the guidelines off the internet about scans.  I know people with less invasize and they get scans .  He agreed to doing a ct scan after my reconstruction surgery but it took a lot of convincing .  Can anyone relate either way ?  Thank you in advance for your response.

mary 

Comments

  • duck1255
    duck1255 Member Posts: 40
    #2
    Scans

    I have a CT scan and a bone scan every 3-4 months. My onc doesn't use tumor markers only scans to determine if treatment is working. I also have a CBC blood test every time Into in. Good luck with your scan

  • mschaben
    mschaben Member Posts: 87
    #3
    duck1255 said:

    Scans

    I have a CT scan and a bone scan every 3-4 months. My onc doesn't use tumor markers only scans to determine if treatment is working. I also have a CBC blood test every time Into in. Good luck with your scan

    Thank you

    Thank you for your reply.. :). Do you mind me asking what your diagnosis is... 

  • Wildtulip
    Wildtulip Member Posts: 14
    #4
    scans

    Hi Mary,

    I had a bilateral mastectomy and lymph nodes removed last March. I then had chemo and radiation, which I finished late Nov. My doctor also did not want to scan and said the mastectomy removed the cancer and the chemo and radiation were to kill any remaining cancer cells so a scan wasn't necessary. After thinking about it for months, I asked for a scan and I had a CT, which came back good. Sometimes peace of mind is worth going through the tests.

  • new4daisy
    new4daisy Member Posts: 6
    #5
    Onc doesn't want to hear it

    I'm so glad I found your post.  I just got home from the oncologist and glad to know I'm not alone.  I was diagnosed with IDC 6/2014.  I had lumpectomy, re-excision, 6 rounds chemo and 33 radiation treatments.  I finished March 2015.  Everything I read about breast cancer survivorship says to mention any new pains/changes to your doctor.  Well,  I told my onc this morning that since Nov. my hip and lower back have been really hurting. (we did an mri of the lower back in June but the hip pain is new).  I also mentioned that my stomach has really been hurting for days now.  She wanted me to go back to my primary and asked why I thought that cancer had returned?  I told her these symptoms are new and I want to make sure that it isn't cancer returning.  She looked at me like I was a hypochondriac.  Really???? we are supposed to mention anything new to our cancer team but then they treat us like this?  She finally agreed to see if insurance will allow a CT or PET scan (for my peace of mind she says) "but we usually don't order scans."  Ugh! so frustrating and has made me feel like I'm asking for toooooo much!  Yes, I want peace of mind that cancer has not reared it's ugly head again.  Thanks for letting me vent ladies Smile.  Pray you all get the tests/scans you are needing.

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #6
    new4daisy said:

    Onc doesn't want to hear it

    I'm so glad I found your post.  I just got home from the oncologist and glad to know I'm not alone.  I was diagnosed with IDC 6/2014.  I had lumpectomy, re-excision, 6 rounds chemo and 33 radiation treatments.  I finished March 2015.  Everything I read about breast cancer survivorship says to mention any new pains/changes to your doctor.  Well,  I told my onc this morning that since Nov. my hip and lower back have been really hurting. (we did an mri of the lower back in June but the hip pain is new).  I also mentioned that my stomach has really been hurting for days now.  She wanted me to go back to my primary and asked why I thought that cancer had returned?  I told her these symptoms are new and I want to make sure that it isn't cancer returning.  She looked at me like I was a hypochondriac.  Really???? we are supposed to mention anything new to our cancer team but then they treat us like this?  She finally agreed to see if insurance will allow a CT or PET scan (for my peace of mind she says) "but we usually don't order scans."  Ugh! so frustrating and has made me feel like I'm asking for toooooo much!  Yes, I want peace of mind that cancer has not reared it's ugly head again.  Thanks for letting me vent ladies Smile.  Pray you all get the tests/scans you are needing.

    I sort of understand

    why they don't want to go looking for trouble, but if you're having symptoms that could be related, well, it just seems that "they" would want to "rule out" mets if one is a breast cancer survivor. 

    So I  get why I'm not scanned, but if I show up with some symptoms, I really hope that scans are ordered and my symptoms are not ignored.  

    Good health to everyone.

    Suzanne

Discussion Boards