Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Bluebella,   I've just posted a very similar thread about this. Hope you can see it?  I decided not to take Tamoxifen following Oncologist advice, but still wonder why there are such opposite approaches taken! Shana72 ... View more

Hi, I was also advised that it would be of little benefit to me, so I decided not to take it. This was following a DCIS diagnosis, 2 lumpectomies and a course of radiotherapy. I still wonder if it was the right decision as I am ER / PR 8/8+ ... View more

Hi Marla, So sorry to hear you've had a tough time starting your radiotherapy treatment. My mum has had rotator cuff surgery and I really know how painful it is. How are the treatment sessions going now? Have they got any easier? I was treated on my right side so didn't have to hold my breath, but can imagine it isn't easy at all. Getting the right position during treatment seemed to take longer than the treatment itself, my team were really quick at setting up, with all sorts of measurements and numbers spoken out loud to one another, so when I lay on the bed, there was only a few occasions where they needed to nudge me up/down/left/right. Have you had to have some sort of tattoos marked on you to help them with positioning? I haven't needed these, apparently not with the radiation method used with me. Just wondering if that makes a difference in setting up time. I do hope your sessions got easier, take care, Shana xxx   ... View more

Hi Marla,   Good luck with the start of your radiotherapy.   I've finally finished all mine, Wednesday was my last one. All went fine, I didn't notice any side effects until last weekend when my skin started off looking slightly tanned and also had some pain when sleeping on that side.   Fast forward a week and I do have a lot more skin darkening and can feel the same/similar pains I felt after surgery. This is all normal I was told, the pains due to the treatment disrupting the post-surgery healing that was going on.   I haven't felt any of the tiredness/fatigue and I managed to drive myself to and from the sessions.   Good luck with yours, if I can help you with anything please just ask.   Take care,   Shana   ... View more

Hi Marla13,   Sorry for not replying earlier, it took a while to come to a decision.  I decided to go ahead with the Radiotherapy (started yesterday). Hopefully I manage to get through the treatment without CV19 affecting it.   Thanks for your link, I did read through it at the time and found it interesting and useful. Now for the next decision.. Tamoxifen or no Tamoxifen!?!?   Thanks everyone for your responses, really helpful.   Shana72 ... View more

Hi TKN,   I have swollen lumpy area around my scar and further in .. Was told this was most likely scar tissue and normal...?   Just had my first rad session today 😬, went ok I think! ... View more

Hi Shi, thanks for your reply. My head is full of numbers...risk reduced from 20% to 10% with radio, then down to 5% with tamoxifen...BUT apparently I'm low risk with my DCIS measuring 1cm and consisting of low, intermediate and high grade type. If I have no radio now, I live with the 20% risk of recurrence and can attack with lumpectomy and radio if it does recur. If I have my radio now, if it does recur I would have to have a mastectomy. I will take your advice and talk to my BCN. Thank you...and hope all is going well for you ☺️ Shana72 xx ... View more