Early stage breast cancer #4 (recurrence #3)

Hi everyone, I think as I said in my original post I have stayed off on-line boards over the last few years (until last week) - mainly because I didn't want to worry everyone! :smile: For similar reasons I haven't participated in face-to-face support groups - being mindful that my "journey" has been both a negative one but also a positive one in that I have been able to stay free of (detectable) mets.  But it will worry lots of people unnecessarily.  If it helps reassure, all my recurrences were picked up via annual mammograms (for remaining breast) and ultrasounds of both sides OR via annual visits to my surgeon (who I used to see every 6 months but then it drops back to 12 months once we get past a few years - although almost every time it drops back to 12 months something happens! - it is a constant "promotion/demotion"!)  I have also had at least four "false alarms" during these processes where I have been sent for further biopsies which then turned out to be negative.  But I would prefer they were extra-cautious! I think the experiences of regional patients is clearly different due to cost, access and availability - and that is very sad to hear.  Although I also had to wait over 6 weeks for surgery most recently due to lack of availability of surgeon and the plastic-surgeon (who was required for the (flat) chest reconstruction).  Admittedly Xmas was also in the middle of this. So sometimes even in the city, with private care, you don't get what you think you might need!  I think the lesson to be drawn from all of this is maintain your annual check-ups, check yourself as well (although I have always felt everything was so messed up with fibrosis and scar-tissue from radiation and surgery that I couldn't really tell what was what!), and have your annual checks mid-year to avoid the Xmas crunch!