Scan or not to Scan - Post treatment
I have now completed treatment and I’m on Letrazole. I had IDC grade 3 ER + clear margins, 2x lymph nodes with adenocarcinoma and High grade DCIS - margins involved. I had 3x FEC and 1 out of 3 Doce...
Forum Discussion
It's interesting isn't it? All doctors have different ideas about follow up options. My first follow up scans were 3 months after finishing treatment. MRI included. Then all three scans the second year anniversary. Dubious results so another lot in 3 months and all three booked again for the end of September for the 3rd year check.
Interesting article that @kmakm put up.
Right now women are recommended to get a mammogram annually after the diagnosis of breast cancer," adding that, when looking at surveillance strategies, it may be appropriate to start thinking about shortening surveillance intervals for these women, rather than adding additional tests.
What about when the mammogram can't see it? No point doing closer intervals then. I can't remember the exact number but it was around 7mammograms in that first couple of weeks. Even with the exact location from the MRI the mammo couldn't see it (maybe a 3D one could have but that wasn't common then). The ultrasound could only locate it when they knew exactly where it was. Too much dense tissue around it. I had only ever had one mammogram about 7years prior to diagnosis as I thought I had felt something but the results came back clear. Hmmmm. "jJst dense tissue, nothing to worry about."
If I hadn't found the node lump I would have been trucking along having a yearly mammo, (or maybe not as I was 45 and under the assumption that you started that at 50) getting clear results. I am sure the outcome would be less than fantastic 5 years later.
I still think that all three together will give the most concise picture so will be continuing to ask for the MRI with the others every year.
Interesting article that @kmakm put up.
Right now women are recommended to get a mammogram annually after the diagnosis of breast cancer," adding that, when looking at surveillance strategies, it may be appropriate to start thinking about shortening surveillance intervals for these women, rather than adding additional tests.
What about when the mammogram can't see it? No point doing closer intervals then. I can't remember the exact number but it was around 7mammograms in that first couple of weeks. Even with the exact location from the MRI the mammo couldn't see it (maybe a 3D one could have but that wasn't common then). The ultrasound could only locate it when they knew exactly where it was. Too much dense tissue around it. I had only ever had one mammogram about 7years prior to diagnosis as I thought I had felt something but the results came back clear. Hmmmm. "jJst dense tissue, nothing to worry about."
If I hadn't found the node lump I would have been trucking along having a yearly mammo, (or maybe not as I was 45 and under the assumption that you started that at 50) getting clear results. I am sure the outcome would be less than fantastic 5 years later.
I still think that all three together will give the most concise picture so will be continuing to ask for the MRI with the others every year.