WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for April, 1997: Re: Annual GYN exams for breast cancer survivors

Re: Annual GYN exams for breast cancer survivors

From: R.Daniel Braun, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 8 Apr 1997 12:01:22 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Renee: "Annual GYN exams for breast cancer survivors"

At Tue, 8 Apr 1997, Renee wrote: >
>I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy in 1992. Since
>then, two different GYNs, whom I have visited for initial routine annual
>exams, have only done a pelvic exam on me. Neither one did a breast
>exam, and neither one ask me when I had last had a breast exam. I did
>not ask them to do a breast exam because I saw no value in having a
>breast exam by someone who was not interested in doing one on me. The
>first time that this happened, I was surprised. The second time that
>this happened, I thought that maybe this was the norm for breast cancer
>survivors and that I had unrealistic expectations. What is the reason
>that a GYN would omit the breast exam on a breast cancer survivor, and
>how common is this practice?
>
>--
>Renee Kaplan
>kaplan@ionet.net
>

I obviously don't know for sure what went on. I know that you should be having regular follow-up with the physician who treated your breast cancer and he/she should be examining you on a regular basis. In my own practice, when a woman has had breast cancer, I will make sure that she is getting that regular folow up and then usually go ahead and examine her breasts also. The reason to be seen by your breast cancer doctor on a regular basis is that there are other tests to be done to make sure you don't have a recurrence. This area changes frequently and only someone who deals with it on a regular basis will be totally up to date as to what tests and procedures to do.

--
R.Daniel Braun, MD  FACOG
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN
                                      "Heisenberg might have slept here."
                                          Unknown or maybe Indecisive                                               Unknown

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Previous message: Kelly: "Re: Annual GYN exams for breast cancer survivors"
In reply to: Renee: "Annual GYN exams for breast cancer survivors"

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