
<b>For those people who are in remission [NED -- No Evidence of Disease]</b>
The rhythm is scans every three [or six or 12 months.]
Life is lived and appointments and plans are made up to the scan date, but not for afterwards, until the scan results are known.
I think though, at 5 years and yearly scans...  people are more relaxed because there is less worry about sudden inoperable disease appearing.

<b>For those who are being treated with chemotherapy</b>
There is the starting of the chemotherapy treatment. 
Then the rhythm of the chemo takes over.  First week symptoms, second week fatigue, third week feeling better, then the cycle starts again, with scans every three cycles or so.
And there is a comfort when one is on chemo.
One is doing all one can at the time.
One feels that one doesn't have to think or plan much beyond the next cycle.

However, if the chemo ends or isn't useful?  What to do then?  Especially if the scans have shown growth?
<b>The question of what to do next should be already answered.
Get the plans in order for the next chemotherapy while the tumor is still responding to the current chemotherapy regimen. </b>  Have the tumor tested for specific proteins if need be. Contact the doctors for the trials.  Get everything lined up just in case.  Do not wait until there is  a scan showing growth to start investigating the next options.  Get things set up so that the next choice of trial or chemo can be started as soon as the current chemo is ineffective.   

Usually scans and blood tests are done at the end of a three or four week interval just before the next chemotherapy infusion.  If the scans show growth, and if the patient is already set up with another doctor or trial, these scans and blood tests can be used for the baseline for the next chemo.  And the results can be sent immediately to the doctors so the next treatment could be started within the week.  Avoid waiting another four or more weeks in order to investigate the next step.

doctordee
January 2004