6 month checkup

Mosis50
Mosis50 Member Posts: 59
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
On Monday I will have my 6-month checkup after chemo. One year ago my life changed when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My life will never be the same again. I have rediscovered what is really important in my life and I have realized that I want to LIVE. I have made the decision to retire two years earlier than I had previously planned and I want to spend that time doing the things I enjoy doing (spend quality time with my family and friends) and doing things that serve my LORD. HE has given me a wake-up call and I am listening.

Now for my concern: I was very disappointed in what the dr. did when I went back for my 3-month checkup. Seemed like a pat on the head and that was all. He did do blood work and explained my levels to me. Since that time, a lady I work with (who is about a month ahead of me in this process) was diagnosed with a re-occurance of cancer cells and that really SCARED me to death. I need to know your ideas for what you think SHOULD be done. All ideas and prayers are welcome. Susan

Comments

  • Malloy
    Malloy Member Posts: 4
    #2
    Hi Susan:

    I am 1 year after chemo; 1-1/2 years post-mastectomy. I too was concerned that in my check-ups there is no blood work, no scans, nothing but palpation of the scar to feel for recurrence. The latest thinking seems to be that if I pay attention to my body and report symptoms, the chance of catching a recurrence or metastasis is about the same as if other tests were given. I posted this same question to our friends here on the network and they agreed and eased my worries to some extent. I am glad you have rediscovered some things about life that are important to you. Keep up the good fight.......we'll pray for each other. Anne
  • jhope
    jhope Member Posts: 58
    #3
    Hi susan, I guess we all have different ideas. My CA is very aggressive and went from a pea to a golf ball size between 3 month mammograms when I was first diagnosed. I have only had one check up since chemo & rad. Had cat scans, mammograms and bloodwork. I will have this every 3 months for 5 years then every 6 months for the rest of my life. I say great. I'd rather get checked, I have insurance so if they tell me a couple of years from now I don't have to, forget that, I know too many women dying at their 5 year mark etc. I want to be checked, my body has been through so much I can't tell what the heck is normal anymore. Keep in love with God, Julia
  • lynne40
    lynne40 Member Posts: 87
    #4
    Hi Susan, My first check up after cancer was a mammogram, and it was 6 months after diagnosis. My docs felt that 3 months after was too soon to be a true picture of where I was. THat was in Jan. 2004. Now I will go see the surgeon again next week which is 3 1/2 months after first check up. They haven't scheduled any blood work nor done any except last fall a few months after chemo. I will seee the oncologist again in July. From what I gather this is pretty standard around here but I'm going to ask next week. I've never had a scan at all? I'll ask about that too. Luck to you and congrats on clarity about what's important! Take care,
    Lynne
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #5
    Sorry so late to post, hope this helps, and you check message before appt tomorrow.
    Breast cancer, if it metastasizes, typically goes to BBLL (brain, bone, liver or lung).
    For a baseline workup I requested an MRI of brain, bone scan, CT of abdomen and lungs, labs to include CBC, CMP, CEA and CA 27.29
    What the docs don't understand is we need a baseline to compare to for later if we start having symptoms and IF there is a met we want to catch it as soon as possible. I wanted baseline studies done because I had just been diagnosed with CANCER! I felt it perfectly reasonable to want to look over and check out my whole body and make sure we knew exactly what we were dealing with here. Now mind you, I am a bit compulsive, but certainly didn't feel I was unreasonable. Important thing is that you feel comfortable with the extent of care you receive. Oh, and a mammagram too, every 6 months for first year then annually along with a yearly PAP smear. Sounds like loads of fun, eh?
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd
  • Duck5373
    Duck5373 Member Posts: 8
    #6
    Mosis50, I hope I can bring you some confort. I am a 6-year breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 12/97; mastectomy in 1/98 and a year of treatments and reconstruction. First of all, congrats are making the decision to LIVE! I too made that choice and have been doing aggressively so since 1998. Just a couple of suggestions that may help in working with your dr. First, outline how you expect to be treated. I had to actually schedule a separate appointment with my oncologist where I had written a note outlining my fears and how important it was that I was educated on what I was dealing with. Now, when I leave, they give me a copy of the blood work ran while I'm in the office and send me a copy of my BCA results. He was surprised at the proactive approach, but has worked with me since then. Remember, all a doctor has over any one else is lots of education. I do too, just in a different area. If he had to come do my job, he'd need information and help. Well, I want to understand his role, so I need information and help. Second, make sure he knows how you want to be treated -- its okay to say "please, I need more reassurance. Tell me if its your opinion that my levels, my film, etc., indicates a higher risk of re-occurence so I can do things to either reduce it or be prepared for it. Third, please remember all survivors or different. I can tell you that we have lost several women from our support group -- its a sad and scary time when that happens. But I can also say, more are surviving than not. And finally, find a breast cancer survivors/support group. My group has been invaluable in education and understand.

    After 6 years ... my life is still great. I hunt, fish, scuba dive and do everything and more that I did before. Not to say I don't get nervous everytime I have to have a mammogram and go in for a check up. I just know I've survived once, and I'll survive again.

    Keep your chin up and remember -- WOMEN ARE AMAZING!

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