Hello all
I haven’t posted much on this forum but I have been following all your news! Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.
I’m looking for some advice, if anyone can help. I’ve got my follow up appt on Monday after all my treatment finished back in November. What do you think I should I be asking for with regards to check up appointments…should I be demanding scans, blood tests and so on? My oncologist seemed to be saying that from now on it would only be a chat and physical examination each time I saw him. Also, how often do you have check up’s with your oncologists?
Best wishes
Rachel
Hi Rachel
I can only tell you what happened at my unit.At the end of active treatment I was started on Letrozole for 5 years and expect to see the oncology team annually although they have left the door open should I want to see them for any reason.
I have been seeing the surgical team quite regularly because of a problem following surgery(Nothing to do with BC)but that is about to change to 6 monthly.
When I asked about having regular scans I was told that they prefer to rely on the patient reporting any problems, because they have found if a scan is clear the patient assumes they are OK and don’t report problems.
I am lucky because where I am being treated I can always phone up for an appointment without having to be re-refered.
Good Luck monday, let us know how you get on
Andie
Hi Rachel,
Like Andie, I can only tell you what my experience is, although I believe there may be guidelines. At my last appointment the young Registrar referred to a laminated chart when deciding my next appointment date.
While I was on Herceptin I was seen by the Oncologist every 3 months so that they could check my heart scans. My last Herceptin was 28th December and I had a final Onc clinic appointment immediately following. It was just a chat and a physical exam and I believe that will now be the norm. My next appointment is not until Sept 2012 but I can contact my BCN at any time if I have concerns. I attend the surgical clinic once a year around the anniversary of my diagnosis. I think this continues for up to 5 years. The surgeon told me that if IBC returns it is usually within 5 years.
Hope all is well on Monday.
Jan