Hello Als,

I am so sorry to hear about your predicament. I was offered radiotherapy six years ago for breast cancer, but I didn’t have it immediately because of the fact that my surgeon was telling me that there was nothing wrong with my other breast when I could feel a large lump present.

For 11 months I maintained that there was no point in treating one breast whilst ignoring the other. I developed another primary in the same breast a year after my lumpectomy. At this stage I had been referred to another surgeon, who carried out a double mastectomy and told me that I did not need radiotherapy or chemo any longer.

Before I developed problems with the original breast again I was sent to see two doctors who specialised in radiotherapy. One said that it was still worth giving it a go, whilst the other was most insistent that unless it was given within three months of surgery it would be of no benefit. My decision at this stage was not to have the radiotherapy.

You might find it helpful for your partner’s surgeon to refer you to someone similar in your area. It is not an easy decision to make and whatever you do decide rests with you. The other thing that you could do is to ask for a consultation with the surgeon again and ask him why the discrepancy.

I do hope that you can reach the best of the options between you and that it does help to delay the inevitable.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx