New Cancer Care Ontario maintenance protocol is, assuming there is no evidence to suggest that I'm not NED, an ultrasound and chest X-ray, plus CEA test at 6 months and then CT and CEA at 12 month for the next 3 years.
So on March 11th was my 6 month follow up after ending chemo.
The ultrasound was done by a 4th year student and then followed with the student's supervisor redoing the test so that they could match results.
I was asked before starting if I was OK with this, which I was. It was 45 minutes of "big breath in and hold". There were a few times when both of them pushed the "hold" to my limits, and I think my lung capacity is pretty good.
The X-ray was done by a well seasoned technician.
On the 19th I met with my GP to review my results. This appointment had been booked directly by my oncologist's office in September. My GP was not really sure why I was there until I told her that she was supposed to review the results with me. New to her. I suppose in some ways that is good news - it would seem that most of her patients are not relatively new cancer patients. However it doesn't reflect well on the conversation between Cancer Care and doctors.
Anyway end result, ultrasound and X-ray show no signs of lesions in liver or lungs, nothing abnormal in the abdomen and CEA has dropped to 2.5. I am still NED.
I asked why the only other blood test done was for creatinin and my GP agreed that there should have been at least liver function and haemoglobin tests done so more blood work has been scheduled.
I appreciate all the thoughts from posters here and wish good results to everyone. I'm especially thinking about some who haven't received the good news that I did.
mob