Breast Cancer
Post-Treatment | Survivorship
Post-Treatment
Although many people are relieved to have completed active breast cancer treatment, many also worry about the cancer coming back. Not seeing your cancer care team as often, may contribute to the worry and anxiety many feel.
Your doctor will want to see you regularly to monitor you and your cancer. While some doctors perform tests and/or scans to determine if the cancer has returned, many do not. It is important to tell your doctor about any symptoms you might be having. If you are having symptoms, your doctor will likely order tests to determine if the cancer has returned.
Most cancer treatments have side effects. Some side effects will last for a few days, weeks or months. Other side effects might last longer periods of time. Talk with your doctor about managing any side effects you may be experiencing. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a helpful medicine or refer you to a specialist.
Survivorship Plan
- A summary of your diagnosis, tests and treatment you received
- Any ongoing treatment you may be getting (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors
- Any persistent symptoms you may be experiencing
- Familial Cancer Risk Assessment
- Genetic testing results and counseling
- Follow-up care plan
- Schedule for clinical visits
- Possible tests
- Psychosocial assessment
- Ongoing health/diet
Hormone Therapy
Hormonal Therapy for HR+ Breast Cancer
Mental Health Support for Survivors
Emotional turmoil in response to a diagnosis of breast cancer can affect a person’s physical health as well as psychological well-being.
Your emotional well-being is also important following treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Research shows that anxiety and depression are common among cancer survivors. And while it’s normal to worry about cancer coming back, if anxiety interferes with your daily life, you may need to take further steps to manage it.
Some cancer centers also offer various patient support groups for those who prefer to talk with others going through similar experiences. There are also cancer centers that offer psycho-oncology services.
When to Seek Mental Health Support
- having a hard time accepting your diagnosis and the changes it brings
- experiencing physical and emotional side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and mood swings, which can be caused by breast cancer treatments
- feeling overwhelmed about choosing from possible treatment options or where to receive care
- feeling unsure about how you’re going to keep up with everyday responsibilities and expectations at your job or at home
- feeling angry about the way the breast cancer diagnosis has changed your life and affected your personal relationships with a partner, children, family members, or friends
- feeling stressed about finances, including the cost of medical care, having to take unpaid time off from work, or not having enough money to spend on things you enjoy
- feeling anxious about the cancer returning (recurrence)
- feeling afraid of death, particularly if you have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
- grieving about physical changes to your body, such as losing your hair or breasts, or changes to your sexual health
- worrying about fertility
How Mental Health Support Can Help In Survivorship
- reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress
- maintain a more positive outlook by promoting feelings of happiness, contentment, and optimism
- learn coping skills that you can draw upon if you feel overwhelmed
- strengthen your relationships with family and friends improve how well you sleep
Breast Cancer Recurrence
Understanding the breast cancer recurrence rate
Women with early breast cancer most often develop local recurrence within the first five years after treatment. On average, 7 percent to 11 percent of women with early breast cancer experience a local recurrence during this time.
For breast cancer patients with a family history of cancer, or a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, the cancer recurrence rate is higher. The risk of finding new cancers, such as ovarian cancer, may also be higher. Cancer recurrence risk is based on many factors, including the cancer type and how it was treated.
Types of recurrent breast cancer
There are three types of recurrent breast cancer:
- Local recurrence: When cancer returns to the same part of the breast as the initial diagnosis, the disease is classified as a local recurrence.
- Regional recurrence: This type is diagnosed when the breast cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes and/or the chest wall.
- Distant recurrence: Also called metastatic breast cancer, this occurs when breast cancer cells travel away from the original tumor in the breast to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. Common areas for metastasis include the bones, liver and lungs. Even when a metastatic breast tumor spreads to a different part of the body, it contains the same cancerous cells that developed in the breast.
Breast cancer recurrence symptoms
The signs of cancer recurrence depend on where the cancer resurfaces. The patient might not see or feel any signs of a local recurrence, and, if she does, it’ll probably be a slight change in or around the breast or underarm area. More often than not, the patient’s provider finds evidence of a local recurrence during a physical exam or mammogram.
A distant recurrence will typically produce some symptoms, but because many of those breast cancer symptoms are common to other health problems, it can be hard to tell if they’re due to a distant recurrence or something else. Have an open conversation with the cancer care team about any symptoms, especially if they last more than two weeks.
Pay special attention to these symptoms, which could signal a breast cancer recurrence:
- Weight loss without trying
- Headaches, bone pain or any new or different pain that the patient can’t explain
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- Seizures
- Fatigue
- Fever, chills or a cough that won’t get better
- Yellow tinge to skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Digestive issues, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or trouble swallowing
- Blood in the urine or stools
- Any new lumps or areas of swelling
What's the risk of recurrence?
Everyone who has had breast cancer has some risk of recurrence, but it’s typically low.
In general, the more time that goes by, the lower the risk of recurrence. Cancer is most likely to recur in the first two years after treatment, and once people get to five years of living cancer-free after treatment, it’s considered to be a significant milestone to be celebrated. Recurrence after that five year mark—rare, but possible—is called late recurrence.
There’s still so much that is unknown about cancer recurrence, but researchers have found some patterns in recent years that point to clues about why it happens. These factors might be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence:
- Having high blood sugar
- Being very overweight (obese)
- Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- Having had a surgical site infection after surgery
- A tumor of more than five centimeters across
- Cancer cells that are HER2-positive
- Cancer cells that are triple-negative (HER2-negative and hormone receptor-negative for both estrogen and progesterone)
- Cancer cells in four or more axillary lymph nodes at the time of surgery
- Cancer cells in the chest muscles or breast skin
- A tumor of more than two centimeters
- A high number of affected lymph nodes
- A hormone receptor-positive cancer
- A HER2-negative cancer
- Hormone therapy for only a short time after surgery
Lymphedema & Lymphatic Drainage
Managing the Cause and Effects of Lymphedema
Mental & Physical Health Support
Stay up-to-date with your medical needs
Watch for signs of depression or anxiety
Take your medicine as prescribed
Try to eat healthy meals
Get enough rest
Exercise
Find the support you need
Support line
Speak with a survivor, caregiver, or peer who has faced the same challenges you’re dealing with.
Patient Navigation
Receive personalized guidance and support from our patient navigators to help you through every stage of your breast cancer treatment.
Support Groups
Connect with others who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and find strength in shared experiences.
Clinical Trials
Know your options for treatments in development.
Live Webinars
Gain insights and expert advice from our live webinars designed to empower and inform you every step of the way.
Caregivers
Navigate your way as a cancer caregiver.
Video Library
Watch our videos for expert guidance and insights on managing the challenges of breast cancer.
