Choice of treatment

That's a very personal decision. Don't know how things work in Spain. It might be worth talking to a Macmillan nurse and they can talk it through with you. How do they know you are at the low end of recurrence? Have they done for example an oncotype test which will give you a score. Or maybe try the NHS predict test? 

Hi PollyG, I’m in the UK and it seems here to sometimes people are given choices. I didn’t have that option, my plan was made for me. I had both chemo and radio. I think if I had been given the choice I would have opted for both still. Chemo to kill off any cancer cells floating around my body that could then develop into another tumour. Scans can’t detect microscopic cells so even though I had one there was no guarantee that there weren’t any floating around. Radiotherapy to target any cells in the specific area of the original tumour and also the surrounding area as I had cancer in my lymph nodes under my arm (these were removed). 
Even though they do ops and aim to get clear margins, it only takes one cell to start and get left to set up home again. I wouldn’t want that to happen so I’m glad I had both. 
I think it’s a tough thing to be given a choice especially when we are the patients and don’t have the knowledge or experience that our medical teams have. 
You have to do what feels right for you. It’s good to get feedback if what others have done and I hope it helps you to make your decision. 
Wishing you all the best.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi PollyG, I’m also being treated in Spain.   Did you have the Prosigna test?   That’s what I had and it came in at the low end of the intermediate risk score.  Chemo suggested but oncologist told me would only improve my reoccurrence chances by 3%.   I declined to take it and he didn’t push me.  I had radiotherapy, 5 sessions.  

Hi Ochno, yes I had the Prosigna test and came in at 42. When I opted for radio, the surgeon said in his opinion it was the right choice, but he didn't want to influence me at all beforehand. I haven't been told yet how many sessions. I am being sent for a bone density test soon though.

Thanks for replying.

Good luck with it all, I hope it goes smoothly.  I had my radiotherapy at Carlos Raya in Malaga.  All very efficient.  

Hi F1 petrolhead. The test here is called prosigna. Itshows the risk of recurrence in the short term which is only just in the intermediate dmsection. It also put my long term chance of recurrence at 8%.

I have messaged a MacMillan nurse.

Thanks for your reply.

That's where I'll be treated too, so I'm glad to hear that from you.

Hi cuffcake, thanks very much for replying.

Luckily my lymph nodes are cancer free, which is one thing less to worry about. It had never occurred to me that chemo and radio could be used in conjunction.

I hope you're feeling well now xxx

They did the CT planning scan and tattoos first then I had a wait of about 4 weeks for radiotherapy to start.  I think longer than normal as Easter holidays got in the way.  I finished RT on 18th April.   First mammogram to be 6 months after, then follow up with oncologist.  

I had my tattoos and the scan last week, so hopefully I'll start treatment in the next couple of weeks. Have you suffered from the post radiotherapy fatigue I've been warned about? I was also told that the tablets might cause joint pain and "brain slowness". Are you feeling back to normal now?