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Breast cancer: prepare, track and be heard
Practical guides for people living with breast cancer and the people who support them: what to ask, what to write down, and how to be heard at appointments. For information only, not medical advice.
- How to make the most of a 15-minute oncology appointmentChoose your top three questions, say the most important one first, bring a one-page summary of your symptoms, and end by asking for the key points and next steps.
- How to advocate for yourself as a cancer patientPrepare three questions, say your top concern first, bring someone to take notes and ask for next steps in writing.
- Questions to ask before starting chemotherapyBefore chemo, ask what the goal is, what the schedule looks like, which side effects to report right away and who to call out of hours.
- Questions to ask your breast surgeon before a mastectomyAsk your surgeon what the operation involves, what recovery looks like, whether reconstruction is an option and when, and which symptoms to report.
- Questions to ask when breast cancer has spread to the bonesAsk what treatment is planned and why, how pain will be managed, how your bones will be protected and which symptoms to report right away.
- Doctor dismissed your breast lump: how to ask for follow-upIf you still have a breast change you are concerned about, document it, ask your doctor what happens next and when, and ask for a referral or a second opinion if you are not reassured.
- Breast cancer diagnosis with young childrenKeep your explanation simple and honest, keep routines where you can, and ask your team about support for talking with children.
- Diagnosed with breast cancer in your 20s or 30s: where to startStart by getting your facts in writing, ask about fertility before treatment begins, choose one person to help and look for support from people your age.
- How to track Enhertu side effects between cyclesEach evening, score the side effects you notice from 0 to 10, note when they started and what helped, and bring the pattern to your oncology team.
- How to explain side effects so your doctor understandsSay what you feel, when it happens, how strong it is from 0 to 10, and what it stops you doing.
- Fatigue after breast cancer treatmentFatigue can last a long time after treatment, and how long varies.
- Fear of recurrence after breast cancer: what can helpFear of recurrence is very common after breast cancer treatment.
- First week after a breast cancer diagnosis: what to doIn the first week, you do not need to decide anything big.
- How to help your partner prepare for oncology appointmentsAsk her how involved she wants you to be, then take the role of note-taker: keep one shared question list during the week, write things down in the room, and compare notes afterwards.
- Questions to ask about HER2-positive breast cancerIf your cancer is HER2-positive, ask what the HER2 result means for your options, the order of your treatment, which side effects to watch, and how your heart will be monitored.
- Why life after breast cancer treatment is so hardMany people find the end of treatment harder than expected: support drops away while tiredness, fear of recurrence and body changes remain.
- Living with metastatic breast cancer day to dayMany people find routines help: pace your energy, keep one place for questions and notes, and build a small circle of support.
- How to track lymphedema symptomsNote any swelling, heaviness or tightness in your arm, hand, chest or breast, with the date and a score from 0 to 10, and tell your team early about any change.
- Metastatic breast cancer: questions about treatment optionsAsk what the goal of treatment is, which options exist and why one is recommended, which side effects to expect and how treatment will be monitored.
- How to track chemo neuropathyNote each day where you feel tingling, numbness or pain, score it from 0 to 10 and write what it stops you doing, then tell your team early.
- How to organize your cancer records and test resultsKeep one folder, on paper and on your phone, with your diagnosis, results, treatment plan, medicines, contacts and appointment notes.
- 10 questions to ask your oncologist after a breast cancer diagnosisThe most useful questions cover your exact diagnosis, the goal of your treatment, the side effects to report and who to call, and how you will know it is working.
- Symptom diary during radiotherapyWrite a few lines each day about your skin, energy and anything new, score symptoms from 0 to 10 and bring the pattern to your radiotherapy team.
- How to remember how you felt between chemo cyclesWrite one line each day: how you feel from 0 to 10, your worst symptom and what helped.
- How to prepare for a scan results appointmentBring a note-taker, write your questions beforehand and ask what the results mean for your treatment and what happens next.
- Scanxiety: how to cope before a scanScanxiety, the stress around a scan and its results, is common and not a sign you are coping badly.
- Breast cancer second opinion: checklist and how to askA second opinion is a normal request, and most teams expect it.
- How to share your symptom log with your oncologistBring a one-page summary rather than the whole log: your top three symptoms, since when, how they changed, and your questions.
- Which side effects to report right awayThe list depends on your treatment, so ask your team for it in writing, with the number to call day and night.
- How to track symptoms with stage 4 breast cancerKeep a short daily note of your symptoms, pain and energy with scores from 0 to 10, and flag changes to your team early.
- Survivorship care plan: what it should includeA survivorship care plan summarizes your treatment and sets out follow-up, symptoms to report, who to contact and where to find support.
- Breast cancer symptom diary: a free template for treatmentThe simplest way to track side effects between appointments is one minute a day: score each symptom from 0 to 10, add one line about what happened and what helped, and fill in a short summary the day before you see your oncologist.
- How to get your oncologist to take your symptoms seriouslyBring a clear, dated record of your symptoms, say plainly what you need from the appointment, and ask what will happen next and when.
- Tamoxifen side effects trackerNote each day how you feel, score symptoms from 0 to 10 and write when they happen, then bring a short summary to your appointments.
- How to keep track of your mom's or dad's chemo symptomsAsk permission first, then write a few lines each day: symptoms, a score from 0 to 10, what helped, and any questions.
- Triple-negative breast cancer: questions to askIf you have triple-negative breast cancer, ask what your results mean for treatment, the order and timing of treatment, which side effects to report and what follow-up looks like.
- What to bring to an oncologist appointmentBring your questions, a list of your medicines, your symptom notes since last time, any letters or results, and someone to take notes.