Ask an Expert is a free question-and-answer service about breast cancer and breast health that is available on weekends. If you'd like to ask a question or comment, please visit us again on Saturday or Sunday. In the meantime, please search the existing topics using the search tool at the top of the page. It's quite possible that one of our many existing topics already addresses your question.
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We hope you find the information helpful!
| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
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Psychological Support Questions about support for the mental aspects of breast cancer & treatement. |
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| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
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| 6/3/2007 | Since completing my treatment for Stage 2 Breast Cancer about a year ago, despite repeated admonitions during treatment from medical and radiation oncologists regarding the need for follow-up visits for the rest of my life, now that I am out of treatment it seems that no one really takes this seriously. It has gotten so I am embarressed to show up for these visits because the oncologist looks at me like why are you here. Is there something I'm missing here? Am I supposed to just get the message and stop coming? Another woman I know said her oncologist told her she doesn't need to come back for follow-up visits unless she has a problem. Another woman from support group told me that once the oncologists are done with you, they just want you to go away.Perhaps risks of recurrence were magnified to get me to take the treatment? Any idea whats going on here?If I don't need these visits, I sure could think of a better way to spend my money and my time. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 6/3/2007 | standard of care is to continue to follow you for 5 years. time to have a heart to heart with your doctor and take the NCCN treatment guidelines for follow up care with you to the visit. you can find them on the ASCO.org website or on the nccn.org website. | ||
Please note: This service is not intended to provide primary medical advice concerning specific medical care or treatment. Ask an Expert is a free service operated by health care professionals at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. Due to the volume of questions and their complexity, there are times when medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists or oncology nurses are consulted for their input. These individuals volunteer their time for this service and will respond as soon as they are able. Please do not post or send the same question to us in multiple locations or categories.