Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear that you are going for treatment for breast cancer.

Every breast cancer case is treated very individually so I would discuss all of this with your breast cancer nurse. Your case will have been discussed at breast MDT where all the doctors involved in your care work out how best to treat your cancer.

Anastrazole is usually given after surgery.

Sometimes it can be given before radiotherapy particularly if they are not planning to give you radiotherapy in the next few weeks.

Anastrazole can effect your bones so it is quite common to have a bone scan also called a DEXA scan to check the health of your bones.

I would talk to your oncologist about radiotherapy if you are not keen to have it. Treatment is not compulsory but it is worth discussing this with your team before you make any decisions. Radiotherapy is often given as a preventative treatment to help stop cancer coming back.

We have some information about treatment decisions which you might find helpful.

Breast Cancer Now have a service called Someone like Me where the nurses can try and find a patient in a similar situation to yourself.

I do hope that you are getting plenty of support during this time.

If you have a Maggie's near you you may find it helpful to get involved in the different events that they organise. They also offer on line classes which you can tap in to anywhere in the country.

Future Dreams is another support group offering online and in person classes.

I do hope some of these links help.

Do get in touch with your Breast Care nurse so you can understand why decisions about your treatment have been made.

Give the nurses a ring on the helpline if you would like to talk anything through.

Our Freephone number is 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

All the best,

Catherine