I’ve just had my second post Dx mammo (all seems OK hopefully) but I was a bit confused 'cos i arranged to see my onc afterwards (I have private medical cover) and when i went to see him he said that the appointment wasn’t really necessary. i felt like i’de rather wasted his time - but what is ‘normal’ - once you’ve had the mamo who tells you if all is ok or do you just get a letter and no physical examination? Would like to know as my medical insurance has run out now and i can’t really afford to make ‘unnecessary’ appointments. But whose to say they are unnecessary?
confused
caroline
I was signed off by my onc after my last rads. He said that seeing him regularly wouldn’t stop the cancer coming back (which is true) but if I wanted to see him at any time then his door was always open.
Far better to have regular appts with breast surgeon/breast clinic to keep an eye on you.
I am hoping that I never ever have to spend time with an oncologist again.
The pattern of follow-ups seems to vary hugely across the country. If you’ve been on a clinical trial (which I was), then follow-ups appear to go on a bit longer.
I finished treatment in late Jan '08… have had 6-monthly appointments with the breast surgery team, and had two 6-monthly appointments with the oncologist… the last one just in May, however, am now on to annual visits with the oncologist. I had a mammogram a year after diagnosis, but from then have been told it’s every 18 months.
The important thing is that if you have any concerns you can go back for advice / a check-up to put your mind at rest.
All the best,
A x
I see the oncology lot yearly and the surgeon yearly, so I see someone every 6 months. Frankly (and thankfully!) they are a bit of a waste of time, but I fel secure with these appointments. I have annual mammograms. I am still taking Aromasin, and will be until 2010 so will be interesting to see what happens after this.
xxx
i didnt have chemo after my 1st BC 3 years ago so just saw the surgeon the first year and then was demoted down to the specialist nurse for a breast exam and the mammo the last two years… but she missed a new lump at the last exam so have kinda loss faith in her, esp as she saw me twice within 4 weeks for breast exams as i had some pain in the opposite side.
hopefully ill get promoted back to the consultant this time but i guess ill be seeing my onc too as i will be having chemo this time as this one is triple neg.
I have a check up once a year - surgeon one year, onc the next. Mammograms come every 18 months, and are not tied into the checkups - so I get a letter after the mammogram with the results.
I finished Herceptin in April 2008 and was discharged from oncology in August. They said that as all my test results were clear there was nothing else they could do for me (they were great as they got me counselling and a referral to a colleague who runs a menopause clinic).
I now have a mammogram ever 12 months with a breast clinic appointment the week after, usually in December. I’ve been told I’ll get that until 2011 which is my 5 years, than as I turn 50 the same year I’ll pass into the mammogram programme. They also told me that if I have any problems or symptoms I’m suspicious of to contact my breast care nurse immediately and she will get me an appointment to see someone as they don’t cut you adrift completely.
It really does vary with different hospitals doesn’t it. In my case, I’ve been told to expect 3 monthly follow up appointments with oncology initially, which will then move to 6 months. Eventually they’ll be annual assuming everything is okay.
I also have annual mammograms and feedback is given by oncology with any back up from the breast surgeons or multi disciplinary team.
Isn’t the point though that everything should be done by the multi disciplinary teams rather than just one team or another?
Gill