I'm 79. After a lumpectomy, I had only radiation (33x) because my oncologist refused to order an oncotype for me. He also refused to order a ki67, despite it having been my surgeon's suggestion.
I spoke with my Texas oncologist today. (We are snowbirds). I had a scare last year and had to have a diagnostic mammogram one year ago. It turned out to be simply healing from my 1/27/2022 lumpectomy. I tried both Anastrozole and Tamoxifen and cannot tolerate either one. Anastrozole, in fact, semi-crippled me for 6 months and 2 oncologists I now have both said I should never have been put on it in the first place with my well-established history of joint pain and arthritic joints and damage to my left knee (bicycling accident). I had been in the MOST clinical study from 1997 to 2020, but the Illinois oncologist never mentioned that A.I.'s would cause inflammation in my joints, and it sure did. I tried Tamoxifen after that, and it did not go well, either. Here is my question: I was 95% estrogen positive and, today, when I asked about measures to monitor my continued good health (as you must be doing) he poo poohed the suggestion that other women on WebMD mentioned, of doing a mammogram and an MRI, alternating. He said that he "wasn't worried about it coming back in your breast."But he said he WAS worried about it coming back somewhere else, since I am not taking the adjuvant therapy drugs, either (since Aug. 30th.) My question is, "What is your doctor using to monitor you?" I guess we are using blood work, for the moment, but Signatera test came up for discussion, which is interesting, also, because my Iowa City oncologist dismissed that suggestion entirely, saying, "Medicare would never pay for that for you. Do you have an extra $20,000 laying around?" This is representative of the previous oncologist in Illinois, who, basically ignored me whenever I asked any questions, never met with me to discuss alternatives to the godawful Anastrozol and used to primarily walk out of our (only 2 in 8 months) appointments if he didn't feel like answering. (When I asked about ordering an ki67 test, as suggested by my surgeon, he said, "I won't order that for you. You'll have to get someone else" and walked out. So, I'm wondering if the Signatera test is something your doctor has mentioned to you, or that you know about, for monitoring us as time passes.