If you successfully reach the end of treatments...

MyLungCancer

How often do you go back to your doctor for checkups to monitor if you are having a recurrence? I am not liking the idea of not seeing my doctor every month.

GregP_WN

I was seeing them monthly for a little while, then 6 months, then annual. Weaned off slowly. But I can always make an appointment and go see her.

Woodburn9

Mine was changed from every two weeks to every month for two months then every 3 months. It was hard to get used to but was was scanning every 3 months that was changed to every 6 months. It gets easier as you go. I was aware I was so dependent on those visits but I was.

2943

I just finished a year of every two weeks immunotherapy. I traveled two hrs for treatment thus lost one day and then a couple of feeling yuck. I now am being checked every 3 months for at least a year, then 6 months, then yearly. It is a weaning process. I miss seeing my team that work so hard to help me but at same time, have gone thru a cocoon phase of trying to remember what life was three plus years ago before I started this journey. I kinda feel it is another learning time for me, a celebration time, and a meditation time for me, too. What a ride it has been! Hugs to each of us in this fight!

cllinda

It was ever six weeks. Then every three months. Then every six months and now yearly. Mammograms once a year too.

Cindy0121

Going from every three months to every six months is the most difficult adjustment for me since leaving there after my last treatment. That was like grieving a loss; the loss of regularly being understood and treated with compassion by all the people you’ve gotten to know in such a personal way and interacted with on a regular basis. It was just a relaxing, accepting place to be where people went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable. Six months has been difficult because my oncologist was the one who did the most to try to help me sort out all my symptoms with other issues and communicate with my other specialists.

BuckeyeShelby

I'm 7 years out and I just went from 9 months to a year now. The length of time between appointments has slowly increased over time from every 3 weeks (just before each chemo treatment) to where we are now.

JaneA

I am 5 years out from a Stage IV rectal cancer diagnosis. I still mine every three months for tumor marker test and physical exam (she still palpates my pelvic area, liver, and my neck lymph node area). I'm still having scans every six months.

I believe that all of us are "insecure" and not comfortable when we are cut loose from treatment. We feel safe seeing our oncologist every 2 weeks or once a month. It's scary to know that we aren't going to see them for 90 days. Best wishes to find peace of mind.

BoiseB

I really can't say because I just kept adding different cancers. Because my first cancer was stage IV it was every month with scans every third month for the first year then check ups every three months and scans every six months for the next year but then there was a recurrence at the same time as a got a new cancer. So the routine started all over again. Then I got an aggressive skin cancer which is a whole new set of follow-ups. My last follow-up for the second cancer showed some anomalies so I am due a follow-up.

Jayne

As others have said, it's a weaning process. I was diagnosed in 2005, had multiple re-occurrences and have been clear since 2011 (find me some wood!). At that time, my scans/doc visits were reduced to yearly. The protocol now (at least at Duke) is to scan every year for 10 years followining the last re-occurrence (it used to be 5) so my last one will be in 2021. For me, not seeing the doctor reassured me that I was, indeed making progress so I didn't feel that angst. Plus, I had spent almost my entire 40s seeing some type of doctor, having some type of scan, or recovering from some type of surgery so I was THRILLED not to go. I honestly felt like I would scream if another doctor touched me. Ironically, my new GP wanted me to see my oncologist once more so she an understanding of my go forward "plan". I have to say, it affected my mood for a few days afterwards and made me sad for the people in the waiting room. Getting away from the docs is a GOOD thing! :-)

alivenwell

I was ready to get that darn port out of my shoulder! I found employment less than one year later after recovering with curly hair that is normally straight. It felt odd to leave for an afternoon to get scanned without really telling somebody it was for cancer. I saw the oncologist on a monthly basis, then every 3 months followed by a six-month scan interval.

LiveWithCancer

I have gone from seeing my medical team every 2 weeks for immunotherapy infusions to once every three months. My tumors are stable (I hope!!) so I get to live my life normally except for one time every 3 months. I was thinking just today that it has been nearly a year since I stopped getting any treatments. I have enjoyed having my life back and not having to go to the doctor all of the time - it is a long drive and lots of waiting around. On the other hand, I don't feel quite as big a part of the organization as I did when I went all of the time.

When we stopped my treatments, due to some side effects, my doctor said I could come back every 2 or 3 months. I chose 3 months. So far, it has been okay. It is nearly time for new scans and the next visit so I hope things are still stable and I can continue with regular, but not quite as frequent visits.

I'm fine with every 3 months. I think every 6 months might scare me and I know once a year would be nerve-wracking!!