After completing breast cancer treatment, many patients worry about the possibility of a recurrence. In most cases, doctors can’t predict breast cancer recurrence until it actually happens.
About 90% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed with a growth in the breast or in both the breast and the lymph nodes beneath the arm, which can range from Stage 1 to Stage 3.
According to Dr. Angela DeMichele, co-director of the 2-PREVENT Breast Cancer Translational Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, between 70 and 80 percent of these women are cured by current treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and anti-estrogen medicines.
The cancer returns as Stage 4, or metastatic, in the remaining 20–30% of cases, indicating that it has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. According to the American Cancer Society, only around 31% of people with metastatic breast cancer survive for more than five years, making treatment more difficult.
Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk
Many women choose to have a double mastectomy because they are concerned that breast cancer may return. However, the greater threat lies in metastatic recurrence— which occurs when cancer spreads to other organs including the liver, lungs, or bones. Metastatic breast cancer is much more difficult to treat, according to Yale Cancer Center head Dr. Eric Winer.
To determine which individuals may be at higher risk of having breast cancer recurrence, doctors consider several factors about a patient’s cancer.
Cancer in the Lymph Nodes
According to Dr. Winer, the spread of early-stage cancer to a lymph node indicates the possibility of future metastatic disease. Additionally, cancer exhibits a propensity to expand if it has progressed to a lymph node, according to Dr. Arif Kamal of the American Cancer Society. Since stage 0 and stage 1 breast tumors do not spread to lymph nodes, early identification is still beneficial in avoiding recurring metastatic illness. Cancer Grade According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, while cancer grade quantifies the irregularity of cancer cells in relation to normal cells, cancer stage describes the extent of the cancer’s spread.
Does it appear angry when viewed under a microscope? Does this appear to be a cancer that causes trouble? “Kamal says.” Aggressive, rapidly dividing cancer cells are indicated by a higher grade.
