My brother, who has had his 2 year post treatment ENT clearance, is still not back at work. He was told he had to be off for 2 years to reduce the risk of sudden catastrophe due to brain metastasis to less than 1% (he's an airline pilot). Now that the 2 year mark is up the goal posts have been moved by the company medical department, and he believes they are angling for him to have regular pet scans, which his ENT (and the NCCN guidelines for memory)advise against. We're staggered by this, although hugely gratified that he is now 2 years past treatment and well. He's been off work for 2 and half years. He doesn't want a scan and feels this should be his line in the sand - the company medical GPs shouldn't be overuling his own treating doctors. Can anyone point me in the direction of the treatment guidelines? I've managed to find them before, but no luck at the moment. Sorry to rant, and I know we have much to be thankful for.
Right.. Since I'm not a pilot and not American I'm not going to give any advice, except to say if he's having problems with the airline maybe he should open his own charter business ? Other than that I would collect a whole bunch of notes from his drs. One of the reasons it's suggested after a certain amount of time clear having those scans is exposing him to more cancer causing radiation...
best of luck..
Many thanks, guys. The ENT is shaking her head, and has given him her personal mobile number to give to the avmed doctors. A big problem is they have never accepted the ENT as being competent to judge his risk of metastasis, and continue to insist on medical oncology reports. The medical and radio onologists were co-ordinated by the ENT, who does all my brother's checks. The AVmed people are GPs who think cancer = oncology. They have scans on disc, written 3 monthly scope reports etc etc etc, but I also think they want to be told that the risk of a recurrance is 0%!! Dealing with his work medical department has been hugely stressful. If someone can post the link to the treatment guidelines that would be great.
Do you mean the treatment guidelines prepared by the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network? OCF has them on the main part of the website,
here.
Note that these are from 2011.
I don't know whether physicians in Australia follow these guidelines or have their own, but they may provide some guidance as you deal with the company doctors.
Thanks Leslie, that's exactly what I'm after. Cheers