Blood tests post treatment

Thanks so much Lovelies for your advice as always . I feel great at the moment so I’ll go with how I feel for now I think. And trust my guts if i need too. I will check my cholesterol from time to time as it was elevated post chemo. Margie.  Xx

HI Onemargie
 I was TNBC like you, after 12 months no more blood checks unless they are concerned about presenting symptoms.
 I have learnt to relax about it and be vigilant with my health if I am concerned I see the GP and get it checked otherwise I rocknroll with the punches ;)  
Hugs 
soldiercrab

It's not the recommended now. I no longer have them. I am though back through GP having bi-annual bloods to keep an eye on my cholesterol etc. As I was pre bc. 

I have yearly routine blood tests to check blood sugar,liver function, cholesterol, kidney,thyroid.I think it’s a good idea when you are taking anti hormone meds or have had radiation.Tamoxifen raised 
my liver enzymes and cholesterol after a few years.

Hi @onemargie I am a year post diagnosis and double mastectomy. My oncologist said I don’t need bloods done anymore. I had pre op bloods done a couple of weeks ago before I had my tubes and ovaries removed but that was checking for specific abdominal markers. As the others have said I don’t think we get them unless something changes in the state of our health. So trust your gut and love life xxx

Hey @onemargie.

I had a blood test before my 3 and 6 month check up after chemo but none from him since. My gp did order one last month due to the weight loss issue but everything was fine.  Onc  says we'll do hormone level checking after 2yrs on Tamoxifen (god help me) but other than that, nope. He's also not big on too many CT's and neither is my gp (too much added radiation apparently) although they would refer me if I really wanted them.  I had mri and bone scan at the 12 month mark and all good. No one seems too worried about the bloods so neither will I.
 xoxoxo

Margie,

Its a hard one because some oncologists follow tumour markers and others choose not to.
For tumour markers to be relevant one must look at their trends over time.
The old general consensus seemed to be that early diagnosis of recurrence did not affect overall survival so doing follow up tests increased women anxiety without health benefit.
I am not certain that given the therapeutic advances in the last 10 years - and heaps more in the pipeline for the next 10 - that still holds - everything I read suggests that if one is diagnosed with a recurrence and you are oligometatstic - so one organ involment and less then 2-3 lesions ( there is a better def of it but you get the drift) one does better, even when adjusted for time to progress. 
That leaves everyone - oncologists and women and some men - trying to figure out what is appropriate/best follow up for each individual situation.
I am HR Positive HER negative, almost two years out - my oncologist does tumour markers, and at the moment we scan yearly. I hate the scans and tests but I want to know early.

So trust your gut instinct - if you want tumour markers done and the occ scan ask for them.

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I haven't had any blood tests related to the cancer, other than one before my lumpectomy, that I know of.  That worried me at first, but now I just roll with it. :) 

@Zoffiel and @Afraser thanks for your advice as always  it’s very reassuring and  I won’t stress now. And @sister thanks for your hug!! I appreciate it. Xx