I question no followup scans to attempt to catch new cancer or recurrent cancer. Is this the norm?? My last chemo is a year this March. How would you catch the cancer early enough....without a scan? (Had bilateral mastectomy and chemo for triple negative)
My Doctor told me their would not be more scans but they would to continue to monitor me. I most report any changes in my health such as pain that is persistent and any other new symptoms.
I am triple negative too. I finished chemo 3/20/13. I have not had a scan. My oncologist will only do a scan if I have symptoms. I was seeing him every 4 months since I complete treatment but at my last visit he graduated me to every 6 months. He does blood work at that appt. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation.
Same here. No scans, just blood work, mammograms, and a physical exam by my surgeon, unless I have problems or symptoms.
My onc is not doing scans unless there are symptoms. He follows with exams and labs. He said this is now the standard to avoid further radiation from the scans.
Most oncologist will do yearly scans unless something symptomatic comes up. As for catching recurrence it's usually just close monitoring of skin ( aka cancer site) and some labs.