Radiotherapy with M.E./cfs

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Hi I'm Issy

I've just had my 3 rd breast cancer surgery
2016 Lumpectomy
2023 Bilateral Mastectomy
2025 Wide excise incision - cancer moved to chest wall

Advised to have radiotherapy and hormone treatment - estrogen receptive.

The problem I am having is that at 74 I've lived with mod/severe M.E. for 43 yrs and am mostly housebound.

I live alone.

Apart from the actual treatment it is a 60 mile round trip to the nearest hospital ( Salford) I have left the house 3x since Christmas, just to the hospital.

This actually scares me more than the double mastectomy! I'm afraidthe treatment will make my illness and disability worse.
Then there is the hormone treatment. I have already been on it twice and had to come off each one after several weeks as they were multiplying M.E. symptoms.
I'd be grateful to hear if any of you have had experience of this or advice ... I've been living a day at a time for many years but this decision has thrown me!
I see the radiologist on Wednesday x

FormerMember 28 days ago

Hi tiswasis welcome to the forum. Gosh you have been through the mill right enough with all those dealings with Cancer. You and only You can make the final decision of what to do to keep you well. Can someone, like a breast care nurse do the Predict tool with you which will give you some evidential idea of reoccurrence both with and without both treatments. I can understand your reluctance to travel as you may have to for Radiotherapy. Keeping well is something all of us want but making our decisions based on the available evidence is what we all need as well. I'm.sorry not to have been of much help but to offer advice based on your post..I hope that whatever you decide to do it is the right choice for you. Best wishes for now Gail x

MabelMarm71 26 days ago

Hi Issy,

Sorry to hear all that you've been going through. It sounds as if you are pretty isolated which makes the feelings around your treatment worse.

Where I live, there is a great cancer support place that have drivers who can come & pick you up to not only take you to hospital appts, but to some of the groups & activities they offer.

Might be worth asking your BC nurse if she knows if any such thing. I hate to think of you being alone with this. Take support. All the very best to you x

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