Hi @amsmith -

Thanks for your message. Sorry you’re in the cancer lane with the rest of us.

Since my mastectomy in October 2024, I have seen my oncologist twice, and I’m going to see him on a schedule for 5 more years. For the first 2 years, I think I see him every 8 weeks. He said some can be telehealth if I’m not experiencing any new pains or having symptoms. I like him very much, and he has a very long list of publications about his scholarly work on breast cancer, in particular triple negative.

He did do a physical exam the last time I saw him. He was very clear that I need to contact him if I develop any new pains or symptoms.

The level of “surveillance” does involve all of my other pieces and parts. 🙂 So, that means colonoscopies every 3 years, vaginal ultrasound yearly, annual dermatology visits, and probably other things I haven’t encountered yet. My primary care doctor is also involved in making sure cancer doesn’t pop up in other places.

Because of my type of breast cancer (LGASC stage 1b), the oncologist said I did not need radiation or chemo. He offered me chemo if I wanted it, but he said there was no data (for my type of cancer) to show that chemo helped at all.

I did go through genetic testing through the original breast center that found my cancer, before they transferred me to a university hospital. It showed I have a CHEK 2 mutation.

So - I hope some of this is helpful to you.