CancerCompass message board discussion started by JANICE O. on 8/12/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15215,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ 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  JANICE O. Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT 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 Leslie912 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT 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. Logicat Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT 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  HORSE1 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT