I have been using the online appointments which I do like but I am thinking it maybe time to start seeing the oncologist in person . I am curious if most people go , only if there is an issue , 2xs a year etc. , or after scans ?
I am seen every 3 weeks by a nurse at the clinic where I get treatment and vitals are taken and blood work done when needed.
Thanks a Bunch
Luann
Hi, I’m fairly new to all this…just over a year since de novo diagnosis. I used to see the onc every month just in time to get the next pack of Ibrance (was taking Kisqali for first 3 months). Now that she’s happy that the current meds are working, after my last CT in February, I see her every other month and in between I go to a small cancer care centre to get my meds and blood work done.
If all goes well after my scans this Thursday I will see her every 3 months…eventually easing off to twice a year.
I’ve been lucky here that the main oncology centre has remained open throughout the pandemic. They adjusted their protocol to exclude all non essential people (no plus ones) everyone must wear masks and vaccinations must be up to date or a Covid test needs to be done 24hrs before appointments.
Best wishes
Zoe xx
Hi Luann
I am also in Ontario and I see my oncologist in person every 3 months, I get Zometa at the same time as bloodwork. CT scans are every 6 months.
I’m currently at the hospital to get my bloodwork, see the oncologist, get CT results and then Zometa.
I already know of a small progression in my lungs so it will be an interesting discussion (it’s the 1st progression in 5 years).
Susie 🇨🇦
I hope it goes well .
I see my oncologist (in person) at least every three months. I have labs checked monthly when I get faslodex and B12 injections. Namaste
I was only seeing her four times a year two days after my latest scan but now bc they took me off the treatment I had been on four years, I am seeing her every two weeks for the bloodwork and bc these are two brand new meds she is trying so she wants to see me every two weeks. Really they do not need to see every month unless it is something new or new medication. I was fine with that.
As others have said, I'm having CT Scans and seeing the oncologist roughly every 3 months. I have injections and meds every 4 weeks so I have blood tests and other vitals done then. I can raise any issues with the nurses on those days and they can refer me to the duty oncologist if they need to. I can also speak to the a BC nurse who specialises in Stage 4/Metastatic patients whenever I need to.
I see my onocologist and nurse every month. I enjoy going to see them really, they are such a positive team. She wants to see me, take blood pressure, temp and just actually see me physically. See how I am doing 🥰. CT scans every 3 mths, bone scans yearly. As my BC is in my liver. Bone scan next month and still praying nothing there still. In nova Scotia Canada all covid restrictions have been lifted. We all still wear masks in the hospitals. But everywhere else masks are not required. So Dr visits are back to face to face. Although with my onocologyst, it has always been face to face.
Deb ❤
I saw the doctor monthly since mbc diagnosis however last 6-8 months I see him every other month. Alternate month, I get blood work and fluvestrant injections.
I see my oncologist every 3 months the week after bloodwork. I have always seen her in person. I go for scans every 4 months and her office calls me within a day or two with results. So far it is a good system.
That sounds like a perfect system
I was diagnosed with Metz in many bones three years ago, almost to the day. I have seen my oncologist every 28 days......even through Covid. I go in, have labs, see my doctor, then get my Xgeva shot. Whenever I have a PET scan (about every three months) she calls me the next day to let me know the results and e-mails me the report then I see her again for my next scheduled 28 day appointment. I really like my doctor and I find it comforting to check in with her like this (not everyone feels that they need to). We go over how I'm feeling, how I'm doing on my meds, go over newest research and any questions I have. I think you should see your doctor as often as you feel you need to and what makes you feel best with your care. Take care!
I see my oncologist every other month and the nurse practitioner the other months. I have monthly lab work, vitals, physical, and Faslodex shots. I have an MRI every 5 months (I have a tumor in my liver). My oncologist will call me with the MRI results and give me a copy of the results at my visit. I have a Prolia shot every 6 months and a bone density every two years. Good luck to all of us in our journey.
In my 18 + years wuth MBC, the frequency of appts with my onc have varied alot. I have gone six months between appts when I'm stable, but with the understanding that if new symptoms or side effects show up, I will call and talk with the nurse to figure out if I need to be seen sooner. Right now, I'm going every 3 months! I'm more tired than ever and my feet hurt all the time so I'm not walking as much as I used to and should be--not all cancer related but still I'm glad to be seeing her that often. I appreciated going longer between appts when I was a bit younger and feeling better energy wise. But our frequency of being seen is based on what's going on with our cancer and how we are dioing and how much monitoring we need. (Having a hard time typing as our recently recued kitten is climbing all over me and the keyboard! We are such suckers for cats, LOL)
You and your rescued cat made me smile. Thank you!
Thanks! If you could see him running and jumping all over the house, you'd smile even more! Just reading your note gave me a big smile!
Dear Flower Lady----Interestingly, never has my oncologist touched me anywhere. She is new to me from November 2021. As result, I am very happy with the tele-health meetings. I don't have to wait a long time up in the hospital and have her complete attention when we are on. The interventional radiologist in NYC keeps an eye on my blood and scan results, has met me with the Telehealth device and has done the afore mentioned two ablations and one biopsy last week. I have had no communication at all with the oncologist. They both are with Memorial Sloan Kettering, one in NYC and one in Montvale, NJ. The river is wide.
Sorry! I went topic, somewhat.
I go every month for Faslodex shots and blood work to get my Ibrance RX. Scans every three months. I can call if I have any problems and they will either see me, call in a scan request or blood work request. I have the same one as when I had breast cancer and he saw me every 6 months for 10 years as I was on Tamoxifen and wayfaring. When I first had problems last Sept and went to immediate Care because I couldn't get in to see my primary the xray showed MBC and he started ordering blood work and scans the next day and saw me after they results were in. His office is very responsive to my needs.
Hi Luann, I am in the UK, Shrropshire. I was due to see the onc this Friday which will be 5 and a half weeks since a CT scan. The hospital rang to cancel the appt. because the scan has not yet been read. So I will prob. be seeing her in 2 more weeks! There is a shortage of radiologists apparently. That aside I usually see onc to receive scan info. or for a change of meds. I have been on palbo and letrozole for just over 4 years. Fay
WOW. My husband is British and we occasionally muse about moving back, but this makes me think more than twice. the NHS is such a brilliant idea, but when I hear stories like this it gives me pause. Why is healthcare so complicated? Certainly not writing this to defend our US system...
Oh Fay I am so sorry you are having to wait so long . I find the wait very stressful and envy people who say they don’t stress over scan results . I hope results are all good for you .
Thank You everyone for sharing . I have decided it is time to start going to in person appointments especially after scans that show progression. Now that I know what the average amount of time between appointments is I feel a bit more confident in my request . Thanks a Bunch !
Luann
What to discuss with your oncologist?
Do you visit a cardiologist every month 
The “how are you doing?” Question
Radiation with scans? How often is too often?
Does your Onc give you a basic physical when you see them?
