after treatment

Hi Danielle,

My oncologist also is concerned about the extra radiation from scans, but I request to have one every year. 

As it was, I found a lump in my second breast prior to my scan which did turn out to be another cancer and am now in treatment again.  They also brought my scan forward to make sure I did not have any secondaries.

I think it is only natural to want to have whatever checks may help to find any signs of problems as early as possible and the doctors and specialists need to support the patient in whatever makes us feel comfortable.  It is our body, our treatment, our health, our lives and therefore it is our choice.

Good luck with it all.

Cheers,

Nenie

Hi Danielle,

My oncologist also is concerned about the extra radiation from scans, but I request to have one every year. 

As it was, I found a lump in my second breast prior to my scan which did turn out to be another cancer and am now in treatment again.  They also brought my scan forward to make sure I did not have any secondaries.

I think it is only natural to want to have whatever checks may help to find any signs of problems as early as possible and the doctors and specialists need to support the patient in whatever makes us feel comfortable.  It is our body, our treatment, our health, our lives and therefore it is our choice.

Good luck with it all.

Cheers,

Nenie

Hi Danielle,

My oncologist also is concerned about the extra radiation from scans, but I request to have one every year. 

As it was, I found a lump in my second breast prior to my scan which did turn out to be another cancer and am now in treatment again.  They also brought my scan forward to make sure I did not have any secondaries.

I think it is only natural to want to have whatever checks may help to find any signs of problems as early as possible and the doctors and specialists need to support the patient in whatever makes us feel comfortable.  It is our body, our treatment, our health, our lives and therefore it is our choice.

Good luck with it all.

Cheers,

Nenie

Thanks Helen, goodluck with your appointment and please keep me posted. Danielle xx

Hi Danielle

Like you, I have a better relationship with my GP.  I'm going to see her in early February and will let you know how I go.

Helen. xx

Helen, it is harsh i agree it is not fair. That is what i am also worried about my bones but also my brain and cervix. I have a much more personal friendly relationship with my GP so i might just have a chat with him and see what he says. My oncologist is very clinical and by the book he is great and has done a terrific job making me well however we just have not really clicked like i did with most of my other team.

I feel i have been terribly lucky 'only' having breast cancer and not a cancer that is more invasive so like you if anything else is going to present itself i want to catch it early i do not want to wait untill the symptoms are present and it may be to late.

Thanks for your advice, let me know how you go with getting more scans if thats ok please. I would love to know your outcome.

Daniellexx

Hi guys

I read in the Guide for women with early breast cancer that the reason they do not offer us repeat full body scans/CTs etc is because "studies have shown that having more tests does not improve the length or quality of life for women who have been treated for breast cancer".  So, that means we have to wait to show symptoms before anything happens.  I think that is HARSH!   We have to spend our lives worrying about pains and coughs being cancer when a few annual tests can give us some peace of mind, especially in our first five years.

Despite what these "studies" show, I want to have a chance of catching the sucker early even if it only makes me think that I've given myself every possible chance of beating it if it comes back.  I don't want to have any regrets or beat myself up for not doing enough.  Being a compliant little patient and not bothering the docs isn't going to count for much then.

I don't  fancy my chances of getting my surgeon to agree to send me for another round of tests so I am thinking of asking my GP to refer me to have at least another bone scan, even if I have to pay for the complete cost myself.  I read on the internet somewhere that secondaries of breast cancer most commonly turn up in the bones.  I reckon it make sense that if you catch it early in the bones, you might prevent or delay it getting into more important parts of your body.

Whatever keeps me sane is worth it.

Take care everyone,

Helen.

Hi Jill,

Thanks for the comment. It makes me feel much better knowing my treatment is no different from the majority of ladies who i have asked this question. I will have to learn to trust my body again.

Do you still feel fit now??  I have started doing more exercise post chemo as my whole life i have been thin so have not felt the need to exercise or watch what i eat. I thought i was healthy it was not until my diagnosis i decided to make some healthy lifestyle changes.

I too hope you are well and everything go's well for you also.

Danielle xx

Hi Jill,

Thanks for the comment. It makes me feel much better knowing my treatment is no different from the majority of ladies who i have asked this question. I will have to learn to trust my body again.

Do you still feel fit now??  I have started doing more exercise post chemo as my whole life i have been thin so have not felt the need to exercise or watch what i eat. I thought i was healthy it was not until my diagnosis i decided to make some healthy lifestyle changes.

I too hope you are well and everything go's well for you also.

Danielle xx

Hi Danielle, I too was probably the fittest and lightest I had been in many years when I was diagnosed in October 2008 and had chemo then radium and am now on Femara.  When I finished my chemo i had a further 12 months under my oncologist then he said he hoped never to see me again (in a nice way!).  I now only see my breast surgeon every May (he organises a mammo and ultrasound yearly) and my radiation oncologist in November.  My GP I see about every 6 months.  My chemo oncologist said the same thing when I asked about bone scans, etc. at the end of chemo.  He said we will treat any further issues as they arise.  No point in doing further scans and tests.  Not very comforting I agree but I am much more in tune with my body now than before BC.  I hope it is all good for you from here on.       Take Care,    Jill  xx