Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Buzzbee Thanks for that information. That was ‘fortunate’ your side effects were early enough for you to still take radiotherapy. Ive only been on tamoxifen a month.  I’m feeling fatigue, sore knees and anxiety. Unsure if I would have the anxiety anyway due to stress at my decision.   Like you I would prefer not to do rads, but really no idea how long I’ll be able to do Tami. And the Prime study explicitly says 5 years , if not doing rads. I accepted as a precaution.  For psychological reasons. I’ll chat again to the radiographer on Monday. ... View more

Hi Buzzbee Thanks for that.  Just last question. So, you only took radiotherapy when the HT didn’t suit you? I.e. months after HT? I had to start HT at same time as I made decision re radiotherapy.  My only reason for agreeing was due to concerns re the drugs and perhaps not being able to complete 5 years. If drug side effects don’t kick in for 6 months, would be too late to switch to radiotherapy. Will chat again with radiotherapist. BCN not very approachable. Sorry to be a pest! ... View more

Hi Buzzbee Thanks for that. I had a really helpful call from the senior radiographer who is part of my team and was at my first meeting with oncologist.  She spoke for over an hour and did reassure me a lot, but mentioned that some people decline due to thinking ‘not going through all that for only 8%’, whereas others want to minimise chance of mastectomy and go ahead.   I too am  worried about hormone therapy.  My reason for accepting radiotherapy was because I was unsure if I could stick HT.  She said most benefit gained in first 2 or 3 years.  That’s encouraging. I’ve only done a month and have much fatigue. She also said partial had less s/e’s and at 3 year mark cosmetic outcome was better.  She said I could phone again if I had any more questions.  Must admit, though it was good to get the chance to get more information, I’m not 100% sure, as I’ve got no idea how the HT will be long term. Were you on HT for a while before you had to make the decision re radiotherapy? Anyway, will probably phone her again. Sorry for being longwinded.   ... View more

Hi Buzbee Just another question. We’re you given a choice of partial or whole? Im over 65 and my choice was partial or none at all. Good that you’re doing well, but I had read partial was worse than whole for fibrosis. thanks ... View more

Thank you! ... View more

Hi Jeanie I know this is an old post, but How are you doing now? I had a similar dilemma. Thanks ... View more

Hi Buzzbee Thanks again. Just to clarify- did you have the accelerated partial…..I.e. 5 days or just the partial? ... View more

Sorry forgot to say, at planning, radiographer showed me part of breast to be radiated, and said only that part would shrink. ... View more

Hi Buzzbee Many thanks for replying. Good to hear a positive outcome. As it’s so new, couldn’t find anyone who’d had it.  Googling came up with worse cosmosis. So you didn’t get fibrosis?   ... View more

I’m really worried about partial breast radiotherapy. Due to start in under 2 weeks, but it’s a new procedure and I can’t find anyone who’s had this. At planning, radiotherapist said only part of my breast would shrink.  Reading partial gives worse cosmetic outcome. ... View more

I’ve been told due to waiting lists it’s over 3 months. Advisers at Maggies told me should be within 3 months. ... View more

Hi Jaybro Thanks for your reply. I’m on Tami because I’ve had osteoporosis. I say ‘had’ because I’m waiting for a dexa, and I previously reversed and improved it massively without drugs. It’s probably still in my spine and my team obviously read my records. I’ve also .....7 years ago......had another cancer. More advanced than this one, which I took 6 months chemo for. That was a no brainer. I normally do the natural route, if it’s not cancer. My team seem to be more keen on my taking the HT than the rads. Hence the choice not to take rads due to this study.  I always research drugs. It’s the longevity of the HT that worries me.  I don’t want uterine cancer or possibility of blindness.   I will do the rads.  The serious side effects seem to be very rare. I was also told 8% difference in recurrence with/without rads.  Also, any recurrence has a 30% chance of having spread. I’m unclear why some are told either HT. ....or......rads.  A US publication also said women over 65 with the relevant pathology should be given a choice of rads or HT.  ?.. ... View more

Hi Alpha Thanks for your reply. The choice of taking/refusing radio is only for over 65s due to a study. I wasn’t given choice of radio OR HT. was told initially radio possible, HT strongly recommended. Also told chemo unlikely. So, no chemo, but when I saw Onc was told about study. He said 50% women take and 50% refuse. I think they really want me to do HT. I understand the reason. In US the choice is rads or HT for my age and similar pathology. Decided to take radio as don’t think I’ll do 5 years Tami. Interesting you’re much the same as me but told of such a low risk. I didn’t know that high progesterone was good. One of the thins that concerns me re radio is that if a second tumour developed in same breast then it would mean a mastectomy if radio has been done. ... View more

I understand radio has to be started within 12 weeks though could be wrong. i decided to go ahead, as don’t know if I’ll stick Tami. My team strongly recommended Tami and gave me choice re rads. But I am more scared of Tami. Told s,e’s for partial are less. ... View more

Thanks for reply. I decided to take rads. Starting in 5 weeks. ... View more

Sorry... should've said....if they are over 65 and fit the criteria....i.e. low risk estrogen positive. ... View more

Thanks for your reply. Apparently some women refuse radiotherapy when offered choice. But my counsellor at Maggie's said some regret decision if they have problems with hormone therapy and want to stop. I started Tamoxifen yesterday. Not AI as I've got osteoporosis. Felt a bit sick and headache but more concerned re later effects. I'm 90% sure I'll take radiotherapy in case I had to discontinue Tami.     ... View more