Forum Discussion
Hopefully my suggestion fits within the drive for the additional data collection, but I was hoping that BCNA would consider collecting women's experience of symptoms prior to or during diagnosis of secondary BC cancer?
As someone diagnosed with early stage bc (in 2010), I understand the fear and anxiousness we all feel regarding the dread of this disease possibly coming back. But when i speak with my doctors or go online, its impossible to find a comprehensive list of symptoms or tests that would help us know if there is something happening.
It seems to be up to our GP's (& their experience) to decide whether we are paranoid about every pain, symptom, cough, head ache etc or whether there is something more to be investigated and how long before we should consider a symptom as benign or problematic and then following up with the GP?
I believe that it would be extremely valuable to collect prior symptoms information, (although I understand the need for sensitivity as I can only imagine the distress of a secondary diagnosis.) Any of the following would be helpful?
What kind of pain & where, did you experience and for how long before following up with a Dr?
What other symptoms, changes or feelings of unwellness - described?
Coughs, breathlessness, swelling, stiffness etc.
Maybe this could be a BCNA collective and a summary published if there is support for this?
Thanks for reading, Bridget