Checkups on the NHS for patients with primary BC and 9 years on

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1

I will probably be returning to the NHS next year after having PHI as it has become so expensive even with a large excess.
I was diagnosed nearly 10 years ago, and after 5 years of Tamoxifen now year 4 of Letrozole which will finish next year.
Will I get a checkup or only when I have symptons?

Thanks
Hazel

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Hi Hazel,
I think it depends on where you live. Each hospital seems to do its own thing. I am treated in Leicester and my final checkup is later this month, six years on. I finished tamoxifen last October - if I was still having treatment I am guessing the checkups would go on till it was finished. After that I will need to go to my GP if I get any symptoms.

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Echo what’s said above. It depends on the policy in your local area. Some hospitals discharge patients as soon as ‘active’ treatment is complete, some do routine check-ups for a few years afterwards.

Probably worth a phone call to the BCN team at your local NHS hospital to see what the policy is in your area.

Being realistic, I think a programme of ongoing regular check-ups on the NHS 10 years post-diagnosis is very unlikely unless you have symptoms which give rise to concern. However, I stand to be corrected if people have different experiences.