Hi Fergus 123,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis and to learn that the chemo didn't work. I hope that you are recovering well from your mastectomy and that the Zoledronic acid helps. Am I right that this is what you are having every 6 months?

Fear of recurrence is something that anyone with a cancer diagnosis will experience and this is something that we eventually come to terms with. I had 2 bouts of breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy to start with and had a double mastectomy the following year. I was especially worried about recurrence after I discovered the second bout within just a year of my first diagnosis. This is something that I have had to learn to put to the back of my mind. I have lived with this for 14 years now and it has got easier.

Breast cancer now offers courses on moving forward, which are helpful. You may also find it helpful to talk to a counsellor. I contacted someone from Maggie's and found it very useful. These are situated throughout the country, so there is possibly a centre close to you. People on this forum will also understand your concerns, so don't be afraid to join in or start up a conversation. Speaking to others who have experienced these concerns and hearing how they have coped.

Many people want their second breast removed for symmetry, or to prevent recurrence. Surgeons are reluctant to remove a healthy breast, as research shows that this does nothing to reduce the possibility. I had the double mastectomy because, I discovered a lump in my other breast 6 months after my lumpectomy. This was pre-cancerous, so after I discovered the third lump, my surgeon agreed that it was best to remove both breasts.

Do please keep in touch and let us know what you find that helps with this fear. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx