Recurrence of Breast Cancer
Recurrence Breast cancer that comes back
When cancer comes back after treatment, it is called a recurrence. The cancer can come back in the same breast or near the mastectomy scar (this is called local recurrence), or farther away (distant recurrence). Cancer that is found in the opposite breast is not a recurrence -- it is a new cancer that requires its own treatment.
Local recurrence
Treatment of women whose breast cancer has recurred locally depends on what treatment was used before. If the woman had breast-conserving therapy, a mastectomy is usually done. If the first treatment was mastectomy, recurrence near the mastectomy site is treated by removing the tumor whenever possible. This is followed by radiation therapy, but only if none had been given after the first surgery. (Radiation can't be given to the same area twice.) In either case, hormone therapy, trastuzumab, chemo, or some combination of these may be used after surgery and/or radiation therapy.
Distant recurrence
As a rule, women who have a cancer recurrence that has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body (like the bones, lungs, brain, etc.), are treated with systemic therapy. Surgery and/or radiation may be useful in some cases, but they are not very likely to cure these cancers, so systemic therapy is the main treatment. Depending on many factors, this may be hormone therapy, chemo, targeted therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) or bevacizumab (Avastin), or some combination of these treatments. Should your cancer come back, Betterdays Cancer Care can give you information on how to manage and cope with this phase of your treatment.
When cancer comes back after treatment, it is called a recurrence. The cancer can come back in the same breast or near the mastectomy scar (this is called local recurrence), or farther away (distant recurrence). Cancer that is found in the opposite breast is not a recurrence -- it is a new cancer that requires its own treatment.
Local recurrence
Treatment of women whose breast cancer has recurred locally depends on what treatment was used before. If the woman had breast-conserving therapy, a mastectomy is usually done. If the first treatment was mastectomy, recurrence near the mastectomy site is treated by removing the tumor whenever possible. This is followed by radiation therapy, but only if none had been given after the first surgery. (Radiation can't be given to the same area twice.) In either case, hormone therapy, trastuzumab, chemo, or some combination of these may be used after surgery and/or radiation therapy.
Distant recurrence
As a rule, women who have a cancer recurrence that has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body (like the bones, lungs, brain, etc.), are treated with systemic therapy. Surgery and/or radiation may be useful in some cases, but they are not very likely to cure these cancers, so systemic therapy is the main treatment. Depending on many factors, this may be hormone therapy, chemo, targeted therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) or bevacizumab (Avastin), or some combination of these treatments. Should your cancer come back, Betterdays Cancer Care can give you information on how to manage and cope with this phase of your treatment.
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DID YOU KNOW?
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
