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LilyFeb61's avatar
LilyFeb61
Member
11 years ago

What Follow-up tests do you get?

I had a mastectomy for primary breast cancer, (Grade 3Her2pos,node neg), then treatment with 6 rounds of Docetaxel and a year of trastuzumab.

My oncologist told me that I have 3wkly regular blood tests while on Docetaxel, and 3monthly regular gated heart tests while on trastuzumab,

But once my year of treatment is over, I will get only an annual mammagram and ultrasound of my remaining breast. No other monitoring tests, unless/until I have symptoms that do not go away that my GP refers me for tests or scans for, eg severe coughs, breathlessness, pain, etc.

I'm told this is because research shows the survival rate is not improved by such tests and that the scans expose you to more radiation so more cancer risk..

I don't feel too happy with this. Is this normal? What ongoing test are/were scheduled for  the rest of you with node neg, fastgrowing primary breast cancer?

Or do you only get more monitoring if you are on a clinical trial?

 

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