Predict - Breast Cancer app
I’ve just discovered an app called ‘Predict - Breast Cancer’. I may be late to the party on this one and you might all know about it but I’d like to know your opinions if you’ve used it and if you’ve discussed it with your oncologists. It strongly recommends that patients use this tool in consultation with their doctor. The app’s blurb says: “This tool applies to women who have had surgery for early invasive breast cancer and are deciding which other treatments to have.” ”Predict is a tool that helps show how breast cancer treatments after surgery might improve survival rates. Once details about the patient and their cancer have been entered, the tool will show how different treatments would be expected to improve survival rates up to 15 years after diagnosis. This is based on data from similar women in the past. It is important to note that these treatments have side effects which should also be considered when deciding on a treatment.” It claims: ”Development of the model was a collaborative project between the Cambridge Breast Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Oncology and the UK's Eastern Cancer Information and Registration Centre (ECRIC) (now part of the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service) and was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Limited (the company had no input into the model at all). The website has been built by the Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge who are funded by a generous donation from the David and Claudia Harding Foundation and the Winton Charitable Foundation. Predict has been endorsed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.” This is a link to the app: https://breast.v3.predict.cam/tool
Monash Health or Peter Mac
Hi I had gone private when first diagnosed with 1 lump and treatment would be lumpdectomy and radiation. Then after an MRI, results showed multifocal in the other breast too. The treatments, and surgery both sides, the out of pocket cost is so high. I would not be able to afford an immediate reconstruction or any private reconstruction. I am in Melbourne and would like to know anyone's experience with Monash and Peter Mac around having a double mastectomy and reconstruction please. I have booked with my GP on Monday to organise an urgent referral. Any experiences would be very helpful. Thanks everyone.Are you on Zoladex? It is being withdrawn from BC patients' treatments in November 2026
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1536059021895756&id=100064750174391&rdid=ZbyIOgLWpVyIo312# BCNA Mez_BCNA Christina_BCNA Can you please look into this and kickstart strong advocacy for BCNA members currently on this drug? It would appear that AstraZeneca is withdrawing Zoladex, a breast cancer and endometriosis treatment, from Australia in November, citing commercial reasons. HOW UNFAIR THAT IT WILL BE RETAINED FOR PROSTATE CANCER, BUT NOT BREAST CANCER OR ENDOMETRIOSIS! There have been 94,000 prescriptions filled in the last 18 months. The higher-dose version, used for prostate cancer, will remain on the PBS. The dose used by women with breast cancer and endometriosis will not. Ashleigh Middleton, a 30-year-old breast cancer survivor from Melbourne, started a petition calling on the government to act. Swipe through to hear from Ashleigh, Kate, and Aimee, three of the women directly affected, and, if you want to help keep Zoladex available, add your name at the 'CHANGE' link below. https://www.change.org/p/keep-zoladex-3-6mg-available-for-australian-patients?
Hormone inhibitor treatment decisions
Sorry this is a long post. 70 year old, between August 2024 to April 2025 diagnosed DCI, PR+, ER+, HR -, R partial mastectomy and reconstruction, radiation, Anastrazole(such awful, awful side effects ) 4 months then Exemestane 2 months. Completely crashed from side effects of Aromatase Inhibitors, had to stop multiple antidepressants in preparation for Tamoxifen, so crashed even further, quality of life so low only my family kept me here. Stopped Exemestane end of March couldn’t keep going. All this on top of Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, major long standing treatment resistant depression. Have been having positive ketamine pain management treatment and psychological support from onco-psychologist and with concerned calls from onco-endocrinologist and clearer mind realise have realised that i need to review my treatment decisions. I am still scared of restarting Exemestane but more afraid of Tamoxifen side effects. I’m due to see endocrinologist in 2 weeks to discuss what to do next but am appealing to you all to suggest some options or feedback so I go with as much information as possible.
Hormone Blockers
Hi. I was diagnosed with early invasive carcinoma with lobular & ductal features, grade 2, ER/PR + and HER2- on 3rd March. I had a lumpectomy on 9th March and subsequently developed a large - 94mm - haematoma which popped on 4th April and has been bleeding since. It is not losing much now, but still enough to have delayed radiation. There have been 2 unsuccessful attempts to drain it, but it remains solid. I am currently now scheduled to start radiation on 5th May and had the planning scan last Friday. I'm then due to start Letrozole 2 weeks after radiation finishes. My big concern at the moment is the Letrozole and the potential side effects. We have a 7 week trip to Europe booked to leave on 31st August and I'm terrified of side effects kicking in and affecting our holiday. There are plenty of stories on BC forums indicating how awful those side effects can be. What would you do?
Radiation Therapy Omission
Hello, I have been informed by a radiation oncologist that I am at a increased risk of developing radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) from radiation therapy (RT) due to my having a connective tissue disorder. Following research around this I am currently weighing-up the risks and examining my options. I find the decision-making around this challenging and would like to invite members to share their experiences with: Decision-making around RT omission Experiences with RT omission Experiences with RIF e.g. immediate and late-onset effects Please include as much detail as possible. All comments are appreciated. Thank you, 🌷Klio
Genomic Testing experiences
Hi all, I’m a 46 year old mother of two older teenage boys and was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2025. I have since had a lumpectomy and sentinel node clearance and been advised I had Stage 1 Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features with clear margins and no node involvement. My tumour was 16mm and is ER/PR positive and HER2 negative. I saw my medical oncologist on Friday and we discussed will be radiation and hormone therapy with Tamoxifen for up to 10 years if I tolerate it. My online prediction is that chemo will be of no benefit to me but my oncologist did discuss the genomic testing and that it was my decision as to whether I have it or not but if I did want to go ahead I would need to make a decision quickly as I am already nearly 3 weeks post op. I am looking for advice or peoples experiences as to if they were offered the test and what they did. I know everyone is different and that the cost would be prohibitive for a lot of people. We can afford to do it but I’m unsure as to if it is a good idea or not. thank you in advance for any advice or experience you’d like to share and good luck with all your journeys xExtensive DCIS with ITC
hi, I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS following a MRI late last year (showed as ~2.5cm), not picked up on US or mammogram. I had a lumpectomy, which didn't get clear margins at 7.5cm so based on that & the initial pathology (HR negative) I elected for a mastectomy which turned out to be the right choice as they found a further 8cm, so it was extensive. But they also found ITC in one of the sentinel nodes, which I believe is fairly rare with pure DCIS. They haven't found any evidence of invasive cancer elsewhere in the breast tissue. I'm waiting to see what (if any) further treatment the MDT is going to recommend, but it seems like it can go 2 ways (treatment or monitor only) and the guidelines for this vary by country. Wondering if anyone else has had this diagnosis and what treatment option they went with?
Learnt some new. Re HPV
I have been informed that my cervical cancer removed by cone biopsy 37 years ago has come back to life but not in the cervix of all places I never imagined appeared as pre cancerous changes to part of my anus. Through research since finding out is that being immune compromised can trigger the dormant virus to get moving. Didn't even know it could. I suppose if chicken pox can come back as shingles not so surprising. Just not talked about Seeing as my neutrophils rarely go above 1.3 not surprising I suppose. Here I was thinking it was a haemorrhoid. Probable minor surgery in February. Of course the specialist surgeon has to talk to oncologist glad they know each other well.
