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Changing Doctors for Followup: Who do I see?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jul 14, 2023 | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
I don't have much follow up at 5 years and later, after doing 5 years of letrozole. My oncologist refers me back to PCP for x-rays if I have a concern about bone pain. If you are concerned about the other breast, first step would be to request a mammogram and breast exam by your PCP. I think oncologists are pretty inundated right now and after 5 years it seems we aren't really active patients. There is no way to know if cancer has recurred or spread other than imaging, to my knowldege,. Some docs do blood markers but most do those after stage 4 diagnosis I believe.
Replies to "I don't have much follow up at 5 years and later, after doing 5 years of..."
Thank you I had double mastectomy, both breasts removed and another surgery afterwards because cancer was still found on chest wall. After I was in the clear they told me I would alternate seeing each doctor (oncologist, cosmetic surgeon, and surgical oncologist) the first 2 years following surgery then once a year up till year 5. That the greatest odds of recurring cancer is within first 5 years. This development is year 7 and it’s in the same general area of the initial cancer, right breast/chest near armpit.
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I had a MRI and it showed my breast cancer moved to my lungs. No cancer anywhere else or my lymph nodes. But when cancer moves, it’s called stage 4. I never knew that.
They did blood markers on me.