Costs of follow up scans and how many is too many?

Question

I had my 18 month post surgical review yesterday.&nbsp; I still find these appointments rather depressing.&nbsp; Each time you see a different doctor (my surgeon is on long service leave) they have to trudge back over things that&nbsp; I have mostly tucked away at the back of my mind.&nbsp; Quote.&nbsp; "18months with the invasive cancer you had and no recurrence.&nbsp; You've done well." unquote.&nbsp; WTF.&nbsp; That was inspirational. Seriously what goes through some doctors heads?Isn't that why we get chopped, poisoned, nuked and hormone manipulated???????????&nbsp; There needs to be a class at med school on "how to not be an unsympathetic dick"Anyhoo.&nbsp; The point is back for another mammo, u/s and MRI.&nbsp;I haven't rung up for this years prices yet but last years costs were: Mammo&nbsp; gap between $180 and $220 depending if there is any need for biopsy. U/s&nbsp; gap $125&nbsp; MRI&nbsp; $575&nbsp; no medicare rebate.&nbsp;Seems I am no longer in the high risk group...hahahahaha so nothing is bulk billed.&nbsp; &nbsp; So if you think&nbsp;you might have cancer or a strong family history you can get bulk billed, if you have had&nbsp;cancer you no longer fit the&nbsp; "high risk" check boxes so you get to pay&nbsp;I also wonder how many tests is it safe to have?&nbsp; I counted up in the last 18 months I have had 7 mammograms, 6 u/sounds I think, that could be more and 3 breast MRI's, 2 brain MRI's, 2 CT's and 2 bone scans and 1 bone density test.&nbsp; Whack the radiation on top of that and am I nuking myself into more problems??????&nbsp;&nbsp;

smokie08 · Answer

Hi Kuzmus I had a MRI this week&nbsp; at no cost&nbsp; and my mammogram and ultrasound&nbsp; were the same. My grandmother had&nbsp; BC hers was hormone&nbsp; sensitive&nbsp; but mine&nbsp; was TNBC&nbsp; I don't know if that makes a difference. All my scans etc were in the public system&nbsp; at the hospital. I don't know why&nbsp; there is such a difference between states&nbsp; i must be lucky in SA.&nbsp;

kmakm · Answer

Oh I'm glad you called him on it. Might make him think twice in the future.

kmakm · Answer

Re that doctor... what the actual f**k? Moronic, insensitive... how could he think that was a comforting thing to say?? I am SO sorry this happened to you.The unrebated MRI gets my goat. I didn't 'qualify' for the rebate, despite being the third member of my immediate family to be diagnosed with BC before menopause. My surgeon says there's a points system. Having a sister killed by this disease doesn't get me enough points?? More what the actual f**k??? Makes my blood effing boil.

kezmusc · Answer

Thanks @kmakm.&nbsp; Yeah I was pretty upset.&nbsp; That's the first time the waterworks came on for a long while.&nbsp; Didn't think I had any more tears left for BC. I really don't get the "you're not high risk"&nbsp; for the follow up scans it just doesn't make sense.&nbsp; Who on earth is more high risk than someone who has already had BC.@smokie08&nbsp; I am through the public system.&nbsp; The initial MRI (when we were looking for the bugger) was paid for by the hospital.&nbsp; However, they don't do any of the breast scanning there, it's all done by private companies.&nbsp; On a good note, funding has just been granted to get and MRI machine. I doubt though it will be used for follow up scans, only inpatients I would imagine as they are spending a fortune outsourcing this.&nbsp; Plus there is only one company in my area that will actually do the breast MRI. So no competition I guess.&nbsp; &nbsp;Glad to hear you got yours done for free though.It&nbsp; makes me wonder what happens if you cant possibly scrape together the $900 odd dollars to get these scans done.&nbsp; Do you just have to wait around until its too late or&nbsp; spend your life wondering and worrying.&nbsp; I could ditch the MRI as that is at my request.&nbsp; But I had so much hassle finding the breast tumour that I just don't trust the mammogram alone.&nbsp; It missed it several times as did the ultra sound.&nbsp; It was only with the exact location provided by the MRI that they could locate it properly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

brightspace · Answer

Hi Kez sorry that you became upset....you are lucky.....yes &nbsp;is is true that certain types of bc are more likely to reoccur nomatter the type of therapy we are bombarded with ...cancer sucks &nbsp;Perhaps check with medio onc as per high cost of scans not being free..as you did have invasive type..all the best bright in hope

Forum Discussion

Related Content

Scans

Cost of scans

PET Scan costs?

Cost of radiation

Kisqali, blood tests and scans

Recent Discussions

Docetaxel Side Effects FEC-D Long term side effects or menopause?

Issue with chemo port surgery

Oncotype DX testing

How long the side effects can last?

Surgery Decision

Disclaimer:

Foundation partner	Major partners