Overview
After treatment, recurrent breast cancer returns. Initial treatment aims to eliminate all cancer cells, although a few may have survived. Undetected cancer cells cause recurrent breast cancer.
After initial treatment, recurrent breast cancer may arise. The cancer may return locally (local recurrence) or spread to other parts of the body (distant recurrence).
Recurrent breast cancer may be harder than the initial diagnosis. Recurrent breast cancer isn’t fatal. Local, regional, or distant breast cancer can be treated. Even if there’s no cure, medication can control the disease.
Symptoms
Recurrent breast cancer symptoms vary by site.
Recurrence
A local recurrence is when cancer returns to the original site.
Cancer can reappear in residual breast tissue after a lumpectomy. After a mastectomy, cancer might return to the chest wall or skin.
Local recurrence symptoms include:
new breast lump or stiffness.
Breast changes
Redness or inflammation
Nosebleed
After a mastectomy, chest wall local recurrence symptoms may include:
One or more painless chest nodules.
New thickening near the mastectomy scar
Recurrence
Regional breast cancer recurrence signifies cancer in lymph nodes.
Regional recurrence symptoms may include lymph node lumps or edema.
Armpit
Collarbone
Located above the collarbone
Neck
Repeatedly
A distant (metastatic) recurrence suggests the cancer has spread to the bones, liver, or lungs.
Indicators
Persistent, worsening chest, back, or hip discomfort.
Coughing
Breathing difficulties
Hunger
Unintentional weight loss
Migraines
Seizures
Doctor’s orders
Your doctor will schedule follow-up exams after your breast cancer treatment stops. Your doctor examines you for cancer recurrence during follow-up exams.
Tell your doctor about any new symptoms. If you have persistent symptoms, see a doctor.
Causes
Recurrent breast cancer arises when original tumor cells break away and hide in the breast or elsewhere in the body. Later, these cells grow.
After your first breast cancer diagnosis, you may have received chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or other treatments to kill any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes treatments can’t destroy all cancer cells.
Dormant cancer cells can cause harm for years. The cells are activated, causing them to expand and spread. unknown cause.
Perils
Recurrence risks for breast cancer survivors include:
Lymph nodes Finding cancer in adjacent lymph nodes raises recurrence risk.
Sizer tumor Larger tumors increase recurrence risk.
close tumor margins. The surgeon removes the malignancy and some normal tissue during breast cancer surgery. Pathologists hunt for cancer cells near the tissue margins.
Negative margins are cancer-free borders under the microscope. Positive margins, or small spaces between the tumor and healthy tissue, make it more likely that the cancer will come back.
untreated lumpectomy Most women who have a lumpectomy also have breast radiation therapy to minimize their recurrence risk. Non-radiation patients had a higher chance of local recurrence.
youthful. Younger people, especially those under 35 when diagnosed, have a higher chance of recurring breast cancer.
Breast inflammation Inflammatory breast cancer increases local recurrence risk.
hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer without endocrine therapy. Several types of breast cancer can recur without endocrine therapy.
Some cancer cells If your breast cancer didn’t respond to hormone therapy or HER2 gene treatments (triple negative), you may be at risk for recurrence.
Obesity. A higher BMI raises recurrence risk.
Prevention
Strategies related to lower recurrence risk include:
HRT. If you have hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, hormone therapy may minimize your recurrence risk. Hormone therapy lasts five years.
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy makes it less likely that breast cancer will come back in high-risk patients, and people who get chemotherapy live longer.
X-rays. People who have had a breast-sparing surgery, a big tumor, or inflammatory breast cancer are less likely to get cancer again if they get radiation therapy.
Therapy targets If your cancer creates extra HER2 protein, medications that target it can reduce recurrence.
Bone-builders Bone-building medicines reduce the number of bone metastases in people who have a high chance of getting breast cancer again.
Weight control. Healthy weight may reduce recurrent breast cancer risk.
exercising Regular exercise may lower the recurrence risk.
dietary choices Eat lots of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. If you drink, have one drink a day.
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