Breast Cancer

I had a radical mastectomy 35 years ago for which I received radiation after surgery.  I had been cancer free until four years ago when I received a mastectomy on the other breast for which I received checmotherapy after the surgery.  I am wondering what kind of follow up treatment I should be receiving.  I see my oncologist every six months when he usually checks my lympth nodes in my neck, stethescopes my back and checks my tummy. Shouldnt I be receiving xrays or blood work of any kind.  Please advise.  Thanks so much. 

Janice 

Dear Janice,

I am new to this message board and just saw your message. It is SO important for you to receive proper follow-up treatment! YES, you need bloodwork as well as Tamoxifen or some other medication (I forget the name of the other medication available for breast cancer patients following surgery/chemo/radiation--I believe there are only two).  You may want to consult with another oncologist or other physician if you are not receiving proper follow-up care.

I am not a physician, but have done extensive reading because--after all the suffering I've seen and experienced first-hand--I don't blindly trust doctors anymore. Please don't hesitate to contact me and I can give you more info.

Best Wishes,

~Leslie

Janice,

Perhaps you need to ask your doctor that question. Being a BC survivor for just a short time, less then two years since treatments were finished, I'm still on three month check ups. My doctor does the same things but I'm also on a pill called Arimidex for 5 years and get a full blood panel every three to six months and a chest x-ray and mammogram on my remaining breast once every year.

What about a second opinion on your treatments? I would think that after 4 years you would be on a six month regime but if there is nothing else your doctor is doing you need to ask some questions either of him or another doctor.

Hi Janice

         I had my left breast removed and 11 lymph nodes  removed in Jan. this year. They did a bone scan and ex rayed me to see if I had it anywhere else, which I didn't. Then they check to see if I had the HER-2 gen. Which mine came back negative. If I had it I was going to have to take a protein blocker the rest of my life. They put me on a cemo regime for six treatments, it's called TAC (Taxotere, Adriamycin, Cytoxan ). I've had blood work done also.  I hope this helps you.

              Good Luck

                                          Rose