How Do You Know If You Have a Secondary?

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