Treatment Providers

Hi Maria, Tracey and the others are absolutely right, we all have different follow up regimes depending on the cancer, treatment undertaken and organisation by the medical team.

My mum and I both have had breast cancer but in mum's case she had a small area of DCIS that was treated with a wide local excision, axillary clearance (which was standard at that time), radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Her surgeon was the lead in her treatment and she did not see an oncologist after she'd finished her radiation therapy but saw her surgeon and GP regularly over 5 years. Her surgeon prescribed Tamoxifen (no AIs then). She has now been clear for over 15yrs.

However, my follow up is very different to mum's due to the fact I had 3 invasive tumours (1 of which was very large) & 1 positive lymph node resulting in a mastectomy and axillary clearance, chemotherapy, Herceptin, radiotherapy and hormone tablets. I still see one of the team every 3 months and will do so up 2017 (5yrs). My medical oncologist takes the lead and I see her every 6 months with blood tests & any scans that are required. I see my surgeon once a year after having a mammogram & ultrasound and I'm due to check in with my radiation oncologist again next week for my yearly visit with him and he will just to a physical check of my healthy breast and lymph nodes.

For me, while it is reassuring in many ways to have such close monitoring, the downside is that there is an inescapable sense of anxiety each time I have to go to an appointment and / or carry out blood tests / scans etc

Like Summer suggests, chat to your surgeon about your follow up and ask who you need to talk to about the Letrozole if you have any issues with it. Your GP is probably across it, but sometimes you do need specialist advice. Best of luck & hope all goes smoothly for you from here. Jane xx