Recurrent breast cancer is breast cancer that comes back after initial treatment.
These undetected cancer cells multiply, becoming recurrent breast cancer.
Recurrent breast cancer may occur months or years after your initial treatment.
Learning you have recurrent breast cancer may be harder than dealing with the initial diagnosis.
But having recurrent breast cancer is far from hopeless.
Treatment may eliminate local, regional, or distant recurrent breast cancer.
Even if a cure isn’t possible, treatment may control the disease for long periods of time.
Signs and symptoms of recurrent breast cancer vary depending on where the cancer comes back.
In a local recurrence, cancer reappears in the same area as your original cancer.
If you’ve undergone lumpectomy, the cancer could recur in the remaining breast tissue.
During follow-up exams, your doctor checks for any signs of cancer recurrence.
it’s possible for you to also report any new signs or symptoms to your doctor.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any persistent signs and symptoms that worry you.
Later, these cells begin growing again.
But sometimes these treatments aren’t able to kill all of the cancer cells.
Sometimes cancer cells may be dormant for years without causing harm.
Then something happens that activates the cells, so they grow and spread to other parts of the body.
It’s not clear why this occurs.
Women with many affected lymph nodes have a higher risk.
Larger tumor size.Women with larger tumors have a greater risk of recurrent breast cancer.
A pathologist examines the edges of the tissue to look for cancer cells.
If the borders are free of cancer when examined under a microscope, that’s considered a negative margin.
Women who don’t undergo the radiation therapy have an increased risk of local breast cancer recurrence.
Inflammatory breast cancer.Women with inflammatory breast cancer have a higher risk of local recurrence.
Your doctor can recommend the necessary tests and procedures to confirm a diagnosis of recurrent cancer.
Then you’ll likely be referred to a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer (oncologist).
Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time on.
Tests and procedures may include:
Imaging tests.What imaging tests you’ll undergo will depend on your situation.
Not every person needs every test.
Your doctor will determine which tests are most helpful in your particular situation.
Working in a laboratory, a pathologist examines the cells and determines the types of cells involved.
A pathologist can determine if the cancer is a recurrence of cancer or a new pop in of cancer.
Tests also show whether the cancer is sensitive to hormone treatment or targeted therapy.
Your doctor also considers your goals and your preferences for treatment.
Chemotherapy and hormone therapy may also be recommended.
Surgery.For recurrent breast cancer that’s confined to the breast, treatment usually involves removing any remaining breast tissue.
A local recurrence may be accompanied by hidden cancer in nearby lymph nodes.
Radiation therapy.Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells.
If you didn’t have radiation therapy for your first breast cancer, your doctor may recommend it now.
Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy after surgery to reduce your risk of another cancer recurrence.
Your surgeon may also remove the lymph nodes under your arm if they’re still present.
Radiation therapy.Sometimes radiation therapy may be used after surgery.
Many treatments exist for metastatic breast cancer.
Your options will depend on where your cancer has spread.
If one treatment doesn’t work or stops working, you may be able to try other treatments.
In general, the goal of treatment for a metastatic breast cancer isn’t to cure the disease.
Treatment may allow you to live longer and can help relieve symptoms the cancer is causing.
Your doctor works to achieve a balance between controlling your symptoms while minimizing toxic effects from treatment.
The aim is to help you live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Treatments may include:
Hormone therapy.If your cancer is hormone receptor positive, you may benefit from hormone therapy.
No alternative medicine treatments have been found to cure breast cancer.
For instance, many people diagnosed with cancer experience distress.
If you’re distressed, you may feel sad or worried.
You may find it difficult to sleep, eat, or concentrate on your usual activities.
Tell your doctor if you’re experiencing distress.
Finding out your breast cancer has returned can be equally or more upsetting than your initial diagnosis.
As you learn more about recurrent breast cancer, you may become more confident in making treatment decisions.
Keep friends and family close.Keeping your close relationships strong will help you deal with your recurrent breast cancer.
And they can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.
This may be a friend or family member.
Ask your doctor about support groups in your area.
