So ... I received a Breastscreen NSW reminder for my 2 yearly mammogram!
Who else has received their Mammogram Reminder after being diagnosed & treated? Last week, I was a bit surprised to receive a reminder to have my 2 yearly mammogram as I thought there might be some sort of communication between the various health professionals & the organisation .... then again - why WOULD they know about my ILC BC? So far, I've received a written letter, an email & an SMS to my mobile phone - so they are really keen to get me back!! I thought a letter explaining why I wouldn't be going back would be in order. This is what I wrote. I'll let you know if I get a reply!! Hi guys, I’ve received my reminder for a mammogram, but I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer 6 months after my previous mammogram, which wasn’t picked up by it. There is no breast cancer (or any cancer) in my family, so this was (and still is) a real shock to me. I’ve had surgery (Jan 2018) and also radiation and am now on hormone tablets for the next 5 years+. Apparently I have dense breast tissue, but I wasn’t advised of this by Breastscreen NSW and that it would be beneficial to have an ultrasound for earlier and better detection rates. Breast Screen Western Australia advises their clients with dense breast tissue to do this. It is time for Breastscreen NSW to do the same. I will be having yearly mammograms and ultrasounds as a part of my ongoing breast cancer management, so would request that you remove my name from your reminder lists. I only hope that I am not one of the 30% who then randomly go on to develop metastasised/Stage 4 breast cancer, irrelevant of the ‘good outcome’ of my surgery, Rads and tabs. It really is a lottery. Much more research is needed in this area, to determine WHO will get Stage 4 and WHY? Tissue and bloods should be taken from all having surgery, to provide material for researchers to work with! I would be interested if a radiographer could take a closer look at my last mammograms with Breastscreen NSW in 2017 ... to see if, in hindsight, anything could be detected on them, now that we know it was there all along? It was in my right breast. What do you reckon? Not too rude??
Fine needle biopsy suggested 3 years past original treatment mascetomy side
hi all I haven't been on here for a couple of years. I'm 3 years to the day of original diagnosis, lumpectomy then mascetomy expander chemo radio. At my annual 6 month ultrasound/ bloods a what they call suspicious newly found lump has been found only small in mascetomy and node clearance side - first my oncologist said don't worry looks like possibly a cyst then he consulted with original bc surgeon who suggested fine needle. I'm totally freaked out. After all the treatments and trying to return to work neuropathy finally got the better of me. I'm just wondering my oncologist said up to me to biopsy or to wait 3 months have another ultrasound. Over the past 3 years I've had 3 cysts turn up in remaining breast that was suggested to do biopsy but I said no and now they are smaller and not suspicious I'm quietly terrified that this is happening again and I never thought it could reoccur in totally removed side - thoughts / experiences appreciated hugs
Indefinite referrals
I am just over 5 years since diagnosis. Both my oncologist and surgeon still see me each year. So I see one of them every 6 months. I have had an indefinite referral for my oncologist for 4 years but have always got a new referral each year for the surgeon. Last time my GP said “I’ll do an indefinite one this time to save you having to come in just for a referral each time”.I was happy with this. So today I arrive for my surgeon review and hand over my referral. I have my visit and all is good, yay! Then I go to pay and make my next year’s appointment and the receptionist says you’ll need a new referral. I say that I thought my doctor wrote an indefinite one and the receptionist gets really weird and rude. Goes on to say that if I insist on using it then she won’t be able to put through the Medicare claim and I will have to go into Medicare myself and do the claim. I have never had any trouble using the indefinite referral for the oncologist. They always put the claim straight through for me. The surgeon’s receptionist went on to be really ridiculous. She did not give me a card with my next appointment on and when I asked for one she carried on bizarrely insisting that she had already given me one. Her behaviour was really unnecessary and instead of leaving the appointment over the moon that I am still cancer free at 5 years I was completely rattled by her treatment of me. Has anyone had trouble using an indefinite referral?
Visits to the Specialists
Hi I just had my first year review scans were clear with the surgeon, in September I see the medical oncologist, in December I see the surgeon I am curious is it standard practice to see both specialists twice a year and how many years will I see both. Any feedback will be appreciated Stork
Far out this brings it all back
Didn't know where to go have not been active here for awhile but need a shoulder to cry on. Had my 5 year mammogram was supposed to be the one to send me back to breast screen. All excited I thought that would be it but my GP just called need to discuss my results. I can't do all this again. I'm still recovering from the first go around,. Appoint 8 o'clock tomorrow going to be a long night. Guess I'm up for a biopsy will take it one step at a time. And will worry about it later.