This has probably been covered somewhere else in another thread that I’ve not found… apologies for covering old ground!
Question: When people talk about being 3, 4, 5 years post-bc, do they count it from diagnosis, surgery or the end of treatment? A year ago yesterday I finished my treatment, however, I was diagnosed April '07, with surgery early May '07. I believe that 5 years is a significant number for those with triple negative bc, like me, so when am I counting from?
I asked my oncologist that question recently and he told me they count it from the date the operation - mine was Nov 21st 2007 so just over a year ago.
Ruby
I guess it makes sense to count from the date of surgery, because that’s when they have removed the cancer (I hope), although I still think it may be from the end of your last treatment (I had chemo and rads)… So I’m either, I’m 20 months on or only a year Roll on the 5 year mark!!!
I had chemotherapy first and then my operation so i think that for me it makes sense that it’s from the date of the operation but it may be different if you had the op first and other treatment after.
Hi everyone, this is a good question to ask. I had chemo first which ended in may 08 then lumpectomy and rads which ended in sept 08 so knowing when to count from would be useful. Also i am due yearly mammograms so when should i be due one?? Just in case i do not hear from dr and need to chase them up!!
I was told it was from the day of surgery. However, in my case I had 2 surgeries as they thought the lump was just a fibroid (there was a tumour underneath) and I had further surgery 3 weeks later to take out my lymph nodes.
I was told by my surgeon last week that you have your first Mammmogram, 1 year after all treatment has finished, so according to that you will be looking at Sept 09. However I also believe that different Health authorities are different.
I think different Health Authorities do have very different criteria. I will be having my first mammogram 1 year after my surgery date which will be June this year. I live in Kent, so it’s obviously dependant on where you live - as with so many of these decisions!
I was told by my consultant they start counting from the day of your op- which suited me fine as I was nearly a year further down the line than I thought I was!
I was first diagnosed in December 2000 but didn’t have surgery til July 2001 following chemo. I still have annual check ups with the oncology team and last July when I asked the doctor how much longer would I need to go she said they like to see you for 10 years so hopefully not long to go now …
Asked my BCN, who admitted she didn’t know the answer but suggested that it is probably counted from the time once surgery, chemo’ and rad’s have finished.
Last night I had my fourth check up and this is one of the questions which I asked - just because I wanted to know.
According to the reg. from the surgical team, its from the end of treatment, excluding drugs which people might be on for 5 years.
So in my case from the end of rads which will be one year next Friday - but am I counting!
Have a good day everyone.
M x
I was told it is from the surgery - so for me that is two years next month. But if it is from end of treatment, I finished herceptin in December, so I am only 2 months on! Big difference.