How Do You Know If You Have a Secondary?

Hi Hazel,

Thanks for your reply.

I guess it is only natural for the thought to cross our minds from time to time. 

I agree if something bad does happen, at least I know I did everything I could to stop it, and I will just have to deal with it as best I can if and when it happens.

Bec :)

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your reply, that is good to know that my follow up plan is the norm, and what things I should look out for.

Bec :)

Hi Karen,

Thanks so much for your reply, that is very helpful.

Yes I don't want to panic or overreact so the 3 week guideline seems reasonable. 

Bec :)

Hi Maryrose,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I think perhaps I am just overdoing it, but I will see my GP next week if I still feel unwell. 

I was actually surprised how quickly I seemed to recover from chemo and how much I could take on during radio, so to get fatigue at this point seemed unusual. My sister said maybe I have just finally run out of puff!

Bec x

Hi Bec, I haven't dwelt on the thought of secondaries very much but you have a good point, how do we know? Thanks Lisa for your input, it was very helpful. Probably the only time it crosses my mind is when I have a pain somewhere and I start wondering. They usually go away and the bad thoughts go with it. At least with all the treatment I had, if anything happens down the track I will know I did everything I could of at the time to prevent it. All the best, 

Hazel xx

Dear Bec,

It’s Lisa from the Policy Team. It is really good that you’ve posted on the Online Network as it can be such a good place to get support and advice, like you said.

Many women talk to us about their worries that their cancer may come back. The regular six monthly check-ups you are having is the normal follow up for women who have finished active treatment (i.e. surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). At these check-ups, your doctor will ask you about how you’ve been feeling, any changes you’ve noticed in your health, and do some examinations, but blood tests aren’t generally part of normal follow-up.

A few things women can look out for is pain in the bones that feels like a constant ache and doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, feeling quite short of breath or finding breathing to be uncomfortable, or experiencing nausea or pain in the stomach area or under the ribs. At your check-ups, it is good to talk to your doctor about any worries you have or any changes to your general health that you have noticed. Also, you can make appointments with your doctor between check-ups if you notice something that worries you or you want to touch base with them.

All the very best Bec,
Lisa

Hi Bec

i finished treatment a couple of months ago and this was one of the questions I asked my oncologist. The answer was:

• if you find any lumps or bumps that don't go away within a couple of days, whether they are sore or not
• if you start feeling unwell and greatly fatigued that doesn't improve in a week or two (bearing in my that the fatigue symptoms will last for a good 12 months after treatment)
• any ongoing cough
• any new pain that doesn't go away within a couple of weeks
• If you get reoccurring illnesses, one on top of the other
• or you just don't feel right

go see your Gp or come back to the oncologist. They will do bloods etc to check you out. Don't wait longer than 3 weeks if you have a concern. 

I think we just need to be vigilant and become very aware of our bodies and what's normal and what isn't.  Hope you start to feel better soon.  Hopefully you have just been fighting off a bug. Take care. Karen xox

Hey bec. You raise some good questions here which i too have wondered about. 

I was diagnosed in may last year and i have days too when i feel physically exhausted and basically think i overdo things some time.  I think it takes time to fully recover from the fatigue. If you feel crappy all the time though i would speak to your doctor about it.  Take care 

Maryrose