Surveillance Question..

[keysi]

Hello... I just want to know , after treatment, how soon should be the first checkup?.... My boyfriend finished his treatment about a month ago and had a doctor's appointment and he scheduled the fisrst checkup 4 months from now.. he said a month after treatment is too soon... I just want to know what you all think?? He is Stage 1 Seminoma Thank You!!

[Vinny]

The TCRC lists some of the surveillance protocols used by facilities with TC experts to give you a guideline. Since he had radiation and was only Stage I, four months may not be that unreasonable, but it all depends.

Has your boyfriend's doctors consulted with any of the TC experts?

[Kev332]

Keysi,

4 months till the first check up seems to be a long time (to me). I believe the first year of check-ups are usually around every 1-2 months, but that depends on the stage and treatment etc. I would check out the link Vinny gave you and see what they have to say and then talk with the oncologist again.

-Kevin

[Sans rt1]

Just the info I needed too, another question

Thanks for the link, just what I was looking for too. I just finished RT, and this is perfect for preparing for upcoming discussions relating to my long-term followup.

I have a question:

In my scribbled notes from meetings with my doctors, I had that both the Oncologist and Urologist would meet with me for each long-term follow up. It makes sense to meet with all of them for the first follow-up visit (Urologist, Radiation Oncologist, Oncologist), but long term do you typically meet with two doctors (Urologist and Oncologist) every X months on your follow-up schedule? Or does it depend on your stage / treatment type and does it change over time?

Just wondering what the common practice is, although I will find out soon what my doctors recommend.

[Kev332]

You will most likely only be meeting with your oncologist. I saw my urologist one time after my RPLND for my follow up appointment and that was pretty much it.. For the past 2.5 years I've only been meeting with my oncologist every x amount of months. I believe thats the case with most patients (but i could be wrong ). But it could be different since you received RT

Hope all goes well and good job with taking down notes!! I remember back then, my fiance (girlfriend at the time) would be the one taking down all the notes and the one asking most of the questions.. I was pretty much in another world back then. Those few months seem like a blur to me.

Take care,

-Kevin

[rjs]

Schedule

I was also Stage 1 / Seminoma with RT and my follow-up schedule for the first year followed what your doctor is recommending. After the first year finished, the oncologist adjusted my schedule to every 6 months. I suspect after year 2 it will change again if all continues to go well.

I visited my Radiation Oncologist 4 months after treatment ended so he could follow up on any lingering side effects (I had none). He then "turned me loose" after making sure I was seeing a regular Oncologist for my follow-ups. My Urologist still has me on a 6 month schedule, but I expect that to change after the next visit. Usually, they also let you loose, but mine seems to be over-protective. He typically just double checks my tests from the oncologist and does a standard exam. I think he wants to make sure I am doing my regular follow-ups with the Oncologist. And, of course, I am and so will you.

Congratulations on making it this far. You are well on your way.

[Sans rt1]

thanks

Thanks for the quick replies. That makes sense. I expected that the radiation oncologist would probably only have the one follow-up. I should probably expect to be meeting with both oncologist and urologist for at least the beginning, then perhaps only the oncologist long-term. We will see how that matches their recommendations.

Yes, notes are useful. Actually, the urologist's notes are my wife's - this was 4 days after surgery, all I heard was: Stage 1 seminoma, bloodwork normal, CT clear!

I was on my own at the oncologist's, but I wish I had asked my wife to attend - she is much better at asking the hard questions. But I am getting better at that!

[IowaBrian]

The Uro made the call to see me 3 months after my 2nd follow up after the I/O just to make sure the remaining testical wasn't showing any signs. His advice was to do DAILY exam and I better be able to tell him if something doesn't feel right or if there is a bump on anything down there when I see him for that visit .
I see the Cancer doc every month but I am on watch and wait no chemo for now.
Brian

[dadmo]

Post treatment my son has never seen anybody other then his oncologist.