I finished rads last May and have seen my rad onc for follow up 3 times since then. At the last visit in January, she told me to come back in 6 months and then she would see me on a yearly basis.
I've since had a mast and recon on the radiated breast and question the necessity of following up with the rad onc. I know there's more tissue than what I had removed that was involved in rads, but if I'm not having problems what's the point of follow up appts.
I have an appt scheduled for July and when I called the center this morning on an insurance issue, I found out that my onc has medically retired. I saw a couple of the other drs there when I was going through active treatment and didn't care for them. Now I'm really questioning going for any more appts since my dr is no longer there.
Sorry for rambling, back to my question -- How long did you continue follow-up with your radiation onc?
Thanks
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bluesky Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 333 |
May 8, 2008 12:56 pm
bluesky wrote:
i only went once to the radiation oco they told me it was not necessary to do followup visits with radiation. i only see my onco right now. Dx 10/25/2006, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 3, 4/18 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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TenderIsOur… Joined: May 2007 Posts: 3023 |
May 8, 2008 01:03 pm
TenderIsOurMight wrote:
It cannot be emphasized too strongly that treatment of each patient is a highly individualized matter. (FDA-approved labeling for warfarin (Coumadin) NDA 9-218/5-105)
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caaclark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 648 |
May 8, 2008 01:40 pm
caaclark wrote:
I still follow up with my rad onc. but have been stretched out to every 6 months. I think he would be ok without me seeing him but I NEED to see him. He is the most uplifting, fantastic doctor ever! Psychologically, it is completely worth it for me to see him. On the other hand, I no longer see my breast surgeon. She has the worst bed side manner and it causes me anxiety to even think of having a conversation with her. Fantastic surgeon but no people skills. I still see med onc. every 4 months. Carol Diag.1/06 at age 40, 1.6cm, 6+nodes, stage IIb/IIIa, er/pr+, her2-, chemo, mast. rads, no recon
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laynel57 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 341 |
May 8, 2008 01:43 pm
laynel57 wrote:
I saw my rads onco 3 months after my last tx. I was doing so well physically (no skin issues except a tan, no pain, nothing) that he said he didn't need to see me for another year. He made sure to tell me that I was to call him with any questions or concerns and he would see me right away, but he didn't feel that I needed any more doctors right now (with an oncologist, a pcp, a surgeon, a gyn, a cardiologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a pulmonologist, he might be right!). I see my med onco every 6 months and my bs every alternating 6 months, so I'm seen every 3 months (while I'm squeezing in pcp, gyn, cardiologist etc!) Layne "Hit it with a sledgehammer until it submits or dies ...."
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sam408 Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1077 |
May 8, 2008 03:01 pm
sam408 wrote:
Carol, What you said about needing to see your rad onc is exactly why I never questioned these appts before. My rad onc is a wonderful woman who was more like seeing a shrink than an onc. I loved her, but now that she's gone, I'm not sure I want to go back to just see whatever doctor they assign to me. I'm still seeing the BS & PS due to my recent surgery (love them both) and will continue with the med onc until I'm off the tamoxifen, but I'm thinking it's time to cut out the rad center. Sheila . . .Never regret something that made you smile.
Dx 2/16/2007, DCIS, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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Shirlann Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 6150 |
May 8, 2008 06:25 pm
Shirlann wrote:
I never saw mine after treatment. I changed health plans, and he wasn't on it. Hugs, Shirlann |
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Lynn12 Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1018 |
May 8, 2008 06:35 pm
Lynn12 wrote:
I saw mine 1 month after treatment ended. He then set up a 6 month appt, but I cancelled because I didn't see the need. I had radiation after mastectomy, then had DIEP in Dec. So there's not much left of the radiated skin. I figured that I am seeing enough doctors, I didn't see the point in seeing the rad onc. Lynn
Dx 11/7/2006, ILC, 6cm+, Stage IIb, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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quinnie Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 40 |
May 8, 2008 07:33 pm
quinnie wrote:
I never saw my rad onc again. He said you look fine. Good Luck. He was a jerk anyway. I see my regular oncologist every 3 months for a year or so and my breast surgeon every 6 months after my mamogram. I am not sure why anyone would need to be seen after treatment unless their were major problems. I find that for all of of us here in the community exchange there are different protocols for every area of our journeys (biopsy, treatments, surgery, follow ups etc.) It is interesting to see the differences. Good Luck, Quinnie Dx 11/30/2007, DCIS, 1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/0 nodes, ER-/PR- |
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Alli Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 94 |
May 12, 2008 11:47 am
Alli wrote:
I had a rad. onc. appointment last week, but is was with one of the others docs in the group, not the one who treated me(he is doing a rotation at the hospital for 3 mo.). Anyway, my original doc whe is wonderful said he would see me every 6 mo. for 2 yrs. and then yearly. Well, the doc I saw last week spent 4 minutes with me, pushed on my breast 3 or 4 times and then said that I didn't need to come back ...period. I feel like I need to be seen at least every yr, for peace of mind anyway. I still see my surgeon every 6 mo and med onc yearly. I finished treatment 1 yr ago. Any suggestions? Alli |
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Joni0702 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 102 |
May 20, 2008 05:39 pm
Joni0702 wrote:
I saw my rad oncologist three weeks after treatment. All was fine and then she wanted to see me in three months. I made the appointment and then found out that the hospital billed me out of network even though the doctor was in-network. Since I have now reported this hospital to every government agency there is, I can't go back to see this doctor. However, other doctors I have spoke with said there was no medical reason why I would have to see her again and that it was a way for her to make additional money. |
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Joni0702 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 102 |
May 20, 2008 05:39 pm, edited May 20, 2008 05:59 PM
by Joni0702
Joni0702 wrote:
This Post was deleted by Joni0702.
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sushanna1 Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 430 |
May 20, 2008 07:48 pm
sushanna1 wrote:
I am trying to remember back. Mine just released me on Friday. I finished radiation in Spring of 2002 and (if my memory is correct) saw him a month later, then six months then yearly. Last year, he told me it could be my last visit, i.e. five years out or that he could see me one last time the following year. Friday was my last visit. I will miss seeing him, his nurse and the other people in the office. Everyone there has a great sense of humor. |
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