First check up expectation

Hi Fuzzyfelt, bearing in mind I’m just over 4 years out of treatment & also that different consultants/hospitals sometimes work a little differently but throughout, all of my surveillance scans have consisted of pelvic MRI & chest, abdomen & pelvic CT, I’ve also had an DRE (digital rectal examination) each time too, my original diagnosis was T1N0M0. 

I hope that helps a little. 

Nicola 

Hi Fuzzyfelt I hope you are doing ok and recovering well. My diagnosis was T2 N2 M0 and at my 6 week check I had a digital examination. At 3 months a Pet Ct and MRI and will be having another MRI in November at 6 months. Results of first set of scans showed a total response with the nodes and no further spread. The tumour result was partial response as due to the area still healing and treatment working for 6 months there are still changes happening and it is difficult to get a clear image. This is normal apparently however I was hoping for the result of no evidence of disease.  Hopefully next scans will show this. Wishing you well with your follow up. Hope this helps. x

At my first check-up I had an MRI and CT scan but I was in so much pain with my back passage the doctor didn't try to do DRE.  Hope you have good results, please let us know how you get on.

Hi Fuzzyfelt,

I had my 6 week check up yesterday.  My Consultant and specialist nurse i have seen throughout were present.  I was asked how I was with all the side effects and my skin area was checked.  I am still suffering with soreness in the vulva area, still very red, and difficult to sit upright!  Consultant didn't seem concerned and said that it was early days and would heal 

The Consultant explained that at this stage the tumour is often still there so she gave me the choice on whether I wished her to exam me internally.  I said yes as would rather know and glad I did as she said she could not feel the tumour which she had been able to feel at my first appointment and the part which had been on the outside had disappeared also.  She said this was a good result at this stage and she was very pleased.  Phew what a relief!

Oh I was told to start using my dilators even though I am still sore - not sure I want to ouch!

I am due a CT scan and an MRI scan in 6 weeks and then see the Consultant again at 8 weeks when a team have discussed the results.

Good luck with your check up

Carole x

Hi Carole21, that’s great news about your appointment, congratulations. Wishing you the very best of luck for your scans in the coming weeks. 

Nicola 

Thanks to everyone that replied about their experiences. 

I rang the team to find out what to expect through the health trust I’m being treated by. For this first check up appointment it will be a DRE with a follow up CT scan in Jan with consultant feedback a couple of weeks later. 

I will update after my next appointment which is about 10 days away.

Hi everyone, so good news today after my 6 week post treatment check up. The oncologist couldn’t feel the tumour so it’s now a case of wait for the scan in Jan which they’ve said will be an MRI with another oncologist follow up where they hope they can confirm the treatment has been successful.

I know this is brilliant news but I feel strangely flat this evening. 

That's great news! Another step closer to the final goal. Take care. All positive. 

Hi Fuzzyfelt, this is great news, congratulations. So much anxiety surrounds these surveillance appointments especially in the early days that it’s not unusual that our emotions are all over the place so try not to worry about how you’re feeling, it may just take a while for this great news to sink in. 

Nicola 

I had that weirdly flat feeling when I finished treatments. Wonder if it will happen again after my 6 month scans, assuming the news is good.

It's a funny phenomenon, isn't it?