after treatment

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

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

Thankyou so much ladies,

Leonie i am so glad that you are feeling a little better but whoa what a couple of months you have coming up. I hope you have a lovely time overseas. Thankyou so much for your offer to come along with me, sometimes i really wished i lived closer to some of my BCNA friends as i feel i have stronger friendships with other survivors than i do with my friends in the real world.

It is reassuring Liz and Anne Marie that you have been told the same thing. It makes it a little easier to trust my oncologist if it is common practice and not him thinking he is superman.

And yes Amy i agree it is so hard to ignore basic daily pains and not think that they are cancer returning for another round. Sometimes i wonder did i have all of these pains before my diagnosis and never took any notice. One thing that is good i think after treatment we are much more in tune with our bodies.

Thanks so much lovely ladies, i feel much better now after reading your comments. 

Danielle xx

Unfortunately we don't have Qi Gong here where I live.  I might check again re the Tai Chi.  The Movement meditation I'm doing is what I learnt when I did a Mindfulness course through Cancer Coucil Queensland. XLeonie

Hi Danielle

Isn't it funny how we worry about making a nuisance of ourselves and how we don't want to cause a fuss or put people out.  I was the same but I am slowly changing and realise that I have to speak up about my concerns etc.

I had my oncologist look at a couple of small spots on my neck area the last time I was in.  She was very good about it and assured me it was not cancer-related and that I should tell her about any concerns even if I think they sound silly.  Very nice of her.  But as a double check up I got my GP to check the spots yesterday (I was in there to get a new referral).  She agreed that they were nothing but gave me a cream to put on to see if it makes them go away.

Can't help being paranoid about every little spot/blemish/ache/pain now! 

Amy x

PS Leonie - maybe you should try Tai Chi or Qi Gong for a while until you feel ready to take up yoga again?

Danielle, If I was living near you, I would go with you.  I am glad that you are thinking of taking your husband with you.  I feel that everyone needs to know their own body really well and when you think there is something amiss - then get it checked out.  I know we could get a bit paranoid but heh how many chances do we get?  My shoulder is getting better - I am going to give it a workout this Sunday with dragonboating - weather permitting.  I am trying to be a bit careful with it though as we have a lot happeing in the next couple of months.  We are going to Thailand in mid February for my nephew's wedding and when we return I have to get ready for us to move house.  I am presently organising tradespeople to do renovations at our new place when the present tenants move out. in March. Then it will be all systems go.  So I have to stay well and healthy.  I though that I would try and go back to Yoga tomorrow but after doing some movement meditation at home this arvo I realise that my body is not ready for yoga yet.  iI would just be a waste of money as my hands and arms have no strength and I can't get up and down to the floor yet - still too stiff.  I wil have to wait a while yet.  I am off to Brisbane next week to see a Neurologist just to ascertain what nerve damage I have.  Will get to see my little ones again.  Just go with how you feel and put your chest out and make yourself seen and heard. XLeonie