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Breast cancer symptom diary: a free template for treatment
The 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. A dated record like this is easier to share, and much harder to dismiss.
Urgent first. A symptom your team told you is urgent (for example fever or sudden feeling unwell during chemotherapy) does not wait for the diary. Call the number you were given, day or night.
What to track
Score each one from 0 (none) to 10 (worst) every day: fatigue, pain, nausea, appetite, sleep, mood or anxiety, breathlessness, bowel habits, mouth or skin, and anything else your team asked you to watch.
How to use it
- Fill in the weekly grid each evening. It takes about a minute.
- Write one line a day: what happened, what helped, what made it worse.
- Write questions down when they come, not the night before.
- The day before your appointment, fill in the summary: your 3 worst symptoms since last time, what changed and when, what you tried and whether it helped, and your 3 questions for the oncologist.
- Bring it to every appointment. Read it out loud if you need to.
Keep your care team's numbers in one place
The diary has a page for your oncology nurse line, out-of-hours number, your oncologist's office, your GP, your pharmacy, and your next appointment.
App or notebook?
A notebook needs no setup and stays private. An app makes it easier to spot patterns and share an organised summary. Use whichever you will actually keep up: a diary you fill in every day beats a perfect one you abandon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I share my symptom log with my oncologist?
Bring a short, dated summary to your appointment, with your 3 worst symptoms and what changed. For anything urgent before then, use the number your team gave you.
Should I write down side effects even if they seem small?
Write them down with a score. Small changes over several days can matter, and your team can tell you what is expected.
Does this work for targeted therapy and hormone therapy too?
Yes. Add any symptom your team asked you to watch in the "other" row.
For information only, not medical advice. Mima does not give medical advice and does not replace your care team. This page is for information only.