Most recurrences occur in the first three to five years after initial treatment. Breast cancer can come back as a local recurrence (in the treated breast or near the mastectomy scar) or as a distant recurrence somewhere else in the body. The most common sites of recurrence include the lymph nodes, the bones, liver, or lungs. There are three kinds of recurrence, these are;:
Local recurrence, this is the return of cancer to the area where a patient originally had surgery.
Regional recurrence, is more serious than local recurrence because the cancer has spread beyond the breast.
Distant recurrence is the most dangerous type. This is when cancer metastasizes, or spreads to other parts of the body.
Women who have been treated for breast cancer should continue to practice breast self-examination, checking both the treated area and the other breast each month. A woman should report any changes to her doctor right away. Breast changes that might show a recurrence are the normal symptoms of breast cancer. It is important to keep your scheduled follow-up appointments with your health care provider. Common indicators of a recurrence are:
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Lymph node involvement ¡ª Women who have lymph node involvement are more likely to have a recurrence.
Tumor size ¡ª the larger the tumor, the greater, the chance of recurrence.
Hormone receptors
Histological grade ¡ª This refers to how much the tumor cells resemble normal cells when viewed under the microscope.
Oncogene expression ¡ª Tumors that contain certain oncogenes may increase a patient¡¯s chance of recurrence.
The type of treatment for local breast cancer recurrences depends on the woman¡¯s initial treatment. Endocrine therapy is now an essential tool in the fight against breast cancer as it decreases the risk of recurrence by at least one third and can substantially improve long term survival.
