I feel so frustrated that these ONC's don't do routine followup scans. My ONC doesn't even do labs just a quick physical exam. Meanwhile when I do report rib or bone pain they reject it as something else. How do they know? Insurance will pay for these scans. My original tumors grew between 6 month mammograms. Since they do not know what causes TNBC, how do I know new tumors won't regrow as quickly.

You are so right, Docs don't have all the answers and that is why they say "practicing medicine." Faith is stronger than docs/meds but they work together. God and faith gives me peace. My sister advised me of St. Peregrine "The patron saint of cancer patients" and I pray to him for myself and my family/friends/loved ones.

I hear ya. How do they know is right! I worry with every ache & pain and want a full body scan. With my history, my medical onc does not suggest a PET or CT because my tumor was removed and there is radiation risks with those tests. For my personal situation, I did not have node involvement and everything was removed. I do get clinical exams. I had a bilateral mastectomy, plus chemo, plus still having Herceptin because I was HER2+ (stage 2A). My medical onc does do blood tests/labs at a minimum of once every 3 wks. It used to be every wk. I have had chest/breast ultra sound follow ups, post surgery as ordered by my surgical onc every 6 mos. All of it is so overwhelming. I want to make sure the docs and I together are doing enough, so I ask a ton of questions. I always had normal mammos, so go figure. My surgical onc also does not recommend PET or CT. Insist on a test if you think you need it. Be the squeaky wheel...it's our lives we are talking about.

My recurrence came three years after I finished active treatment for stage IIB IDC, I had lumpectomy,chemo, radiation and Anastrozole. The first sign that I had was pain under my armpit on the opposite side of my lumpectomy. The pain would come and go. The second sign was an increasing pain that I felt in my hip area when I walked. I saw my PCP twice for these concerns, but nothing could be found for armpit pain, and the hip pain was diagnosed as Burcitis. When I went for my next regular appointment with my oncologist, I insisted on a scan. She reluctantly ordered a Nuclear Bone scan for me. After the scan results were in later that day, she called me after hours to deliver the news that, indeed my breast cancer had metastasized to my ribs and to my left femur. I was immediately hospitalized because my femur was was so damaged that I needed surgery to have a titanium rod placed in the bone. Scans are not given on a routine basis to monitor recurrence. You are supposed to get a scan if symptoms warrant it. Unfortunately, by that time, it is already too late.

i was diagnosed with a local recurrence on my chest wall 5 days ago, i hade a bilateral mastectomy with my 1st cancer 3 years ago, i found a lump about 2 inches above my mastectomy scare, i am waiting now for them to remove my lump nodes to see if it has spread there.