long term survivors

tiny one
tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
For anyone that has been cancer free for over 6 years,how often do you see your oncologist and how often do you have a CT scan?

Comments

  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #2
    NED 16 years this month. I
    NED 16 years this month. I never see the onc, but see the surgeon every 2 years for a colonoscopy.
  • StacyGleaso
    StacyGleaso Member Posts: 1,233 Member
    #3
    8 yrs
    Clear 8 yrs now. Never see oncologist, not on any meds or chemo or anything. Colonoscopy every 2 yrs through internist. CT scans every 2 yrs.

    Have a fantastic day!

    Stacy
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #4
    StacyGleaso said:

    8 yrs
    Clear 8 yrs now. Never see oncologist, not on any meds or chemo or anything. Colonoscopy every 2 yrs through internist. CT scans every 2 yrs.

    Have a fantastic day!

    Stacy

    Stacy, I thought....
    I thought you had written that you get a colonoscopy every 2 yrs through the internet. Guessing that's not possible YET. :oD
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #5
    StacyGleaso said:

    8 yrs
    Clear 8 yrs now. Never see oncologist, not on any meds or chemo or anything. Colonoscopy every 2 yrs through internist. CT scans every 2 yrs.

    Have a fantastic day!

    Stacy

    CT scan
    I wasn't able to see my oncologist this last visit. I saw the Nurse Practitioner. She wasn't sure how often they do CT scans. I'm so outraged that they seem to want to do this so often. Feb will be the 3 year anniversary for me. Have been cancer free since. I am going to ask questions about why they feel the need to scan so often. Once a year to me is excessive, after the 3 year mark.
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #6
    tiny one said:

    CT scan
    I wasn't able to see my oncologist this last visit. I saw the Nurse Practitioner. She wasn't sure how often they do CT scans. I'm so outraged that they seem to want to do this so often. Feb will be the 3 year anniversary for me. Have been cancer free since. I am going to ask questions about why they feel the need to scan so often. Once a year to me is excessive, after the 3 year mark.

    CT frequency
    How often they do CT scans is or should be individualized to the patient. Depending on how aggressive the cancer, whether there is genetic predispostion, the age when you got cancer and so on. Since I was relatively young when diagnosed, and probably had had it several years before diagnosed, my oncologist feels to be safe, and catch anything that may crop up early, that every 6 months is best, and I agree, I would not want to have anything go for a year or two before it was found. Once you have had a cancer, you are more predisposed to a reoccurance, especially if it was metasised, as mine was at stage 4.
    Pam
  • DennisR
    DennisR Member Posts: 148
    #7
    I never saw my Oncologist at
    I never saw my Oncologist at all after 2 years of being NED, I did see a Primary Physician about every 3 months for regular check ups.
    I was reDxd with a recurrance of cancer after 8 years by my Primary Care Doctor and now I'm seeing my Oncologist every month again for a while.
    I guess once they feel your cancer is in total Remission they move on to other more needy patients. I'm always happy whenever they tell me they don't need to see me any more, makes me feel like I'm winning the battle.
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #8
    8 year survivor
    I get a colonoscopy and CT scan every two years after I hit my 5 year mark (before that it was yearly). Since my sister died at 33 and I was dx'ed at 39 they are still keeping a close eye on me.

    I see my oncologist when I go to Mayo for my testing otherwise i just see the local surgeon when he does my colonoscopy. I don't consider him anything other than the purveyor of the scope--he and I don't have that kind of patient/doctor relationship. I consult my oncologist for everything and have my tests sent to him for a look over and a phone consult. I'd go to him every time if my insurance would pay for it. I love him to pieces!

    I am VERY thankful for my oncologist. He ROCKS!!!

    peace, emily
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #9
    tiny one said:

    CT scan
    I wasn't able to see my oncologist this last visit. I saw the Nurse Practitioner. She wasn't sure how often they do CT scans. I'm so outraged that they seem to want to do this so often. Feb will be the 3 year anniversary for me. Have been cancer free since. I am going to ask questions about why they feel the need to scan so often. Once a year to me is excessive, after the 3 year mark.

    My doctor told me at my 1st
    My doctor told me at my 1st remission,they would scan every 3 months the first year,
    every 6 months the second and third year and then once a year after that.
    I personally would like to go every 6 months.If it comes back,it can grow a lot in a year!
    My first remission was 10 months ,my second only 4.he told me that at the 5 year clear mark (if i make it)I still would have a 15--20 % chance of recurrence.Hopefully,you will be free for life,but please go get the yearly scans.they are important!
    GOD BLESS
    KATE
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #10
    Nearly 12 years,I
    Nearly 12 years,I see my onc on a regular basis but only to say Hi. I don't go near surgeons I always finish up with something missing. I have a scope every year but I keep telling my lady GI we have to stop meeting this way. I don't have scans they stopped at year 5. I see my nephrologist and rheumatologist every three mos and they are magaging to keep me upright.....Does anyone remember their life before cancer???? Ron.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #11
    I'm at 5 years for the colon....
    I was told at my last colonoscopy, that because my cancer was non-polypar and that I have yet to grow a polyp, that I could go 3-5 years till my next scopy. I agree with others, I think it has to do with many factors....

    I still see my oncologist for the breast cancer, but she doesn't do much for the colon...that said, if I get nervous, she told me I could just call and she would arrange for a CT. Her point is that I have had soooooo much radiation to the area, that less is better, unless there is a problem. CT scans pack multiples of rads compared to a single X-Ray, she says...a marvelous tool, but not without risks...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #12
    5 years here!!!
    nice to see the old timers posting,
    neon congrats on 16 years!!!!
    emily.ron,stacey, kathi, you were all here when i came on board and you all have helped me.
    i say thank you !!!!
    tiny i go to get a scope every two years and see the oncologist yearly.
    in fact 12/14 i go again for a scope.
    be well
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #13
    fedester said:

    5 years here!!!
    nice to see the old timers posting,
    neon congrats on 16 years!!!!
    emily.ron,stacey, kathi, you were all here when i came on board and you all have helped me.
    i say thank you !!!!
    tiny i go to get a scope every two years and see the oncologist yearly.
    in fact 12/14 i go again for a scope.
    be well
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce

    Me, too....
    Nice to see you, Bruce!!!

    Just celebrated 5 years on November 26....dancing for both of us!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #14
    KathiM said:

    Me, too....
    Nice to see you, Bruce!!!

    Just celebrated 5 years on November 26....dancing for both of us!!!

    Hugs, Kathi

    Wow...
    I hope I can get to all your years, I doubt I will ever become NED, and wonder if anyone lives that long that has liver mets the whole time? I have multiple liver mets, which I hope never kills my chances of being alive for as long as you all. You all have given me so much hope.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

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