What a remarkable treatment response — having the chemo already clear the cancer from the abdominal lining before debulking surgery is genuinely great news, and completing a full Avastin maintenance program is a significant milestone!
To answer the question about whether quarterly follow-up visits without bloodwork or Show Full Answer
What a remarkable treatment response — having the chemo already clear the cancer from the abdominal lining before debulking surgery is genuinely great news, and completing a full Avastin maintenance program is a significant milestone!
To answer the question about whether quarterly follow-up visits without bloodwork or imaging are normal: follow-up care after treatment can vary depending on the oncologist and individual circumstances. However, it is common for follow-up visits to include both a physical exam and a pelvic exam. Many oncologists also order:
- Blood tests to check tumor markers (like CA-125)
- Imaging scans to look for any signs of recurrence Given the stage 3c diagnosis and the treatment history described, it would be worth having an open conversation with the oncologist about whether bloodwork or imaging should be part of these quarterly check-ins. Every care plan is personalized, but it's completely reasonable to ask why those aren't currently included and whether they should be.
Don't hesitate to advocate for thorough monitoring — asking questions is always the right move when something feels unclear about a care plan.
2 hours ago