BC Basics

Breast cancer recurrence occurs when the cancer has come back after the initial treatment has been completed.

It can occur when cancer cells escape detection, and recurrence risk depends on the initial stage, cancer type and treatment response. The average diagnosis time for recurrent breast cancer is around five years after initial diagnosis and treatment.

Types of breast cancer recurrence

There are three different types of breast cancer recurrence: local, regional and distant.

Local breast cancer recurrence is when the cancer recurs in the same breast and the same area as when it was previously diagnosed.

Regional recurrence refers to when the cancer comes back close to the original tumor, in the axillary lymph nodes in the armpit or in or around the collarbone.

Distant recurrence occurs when the cancer is found in the lungs, bones, brain or other parts of the body.

Recurrence risk by breast cancer type

The risk of recurrence for breast cancer that did not affect the axillary lymph nodes during the original surgery is around 6%. However, the risk of recurrence is much higher if the axillary lymph nodes are cancerous, at 25%.

According to the American Cancer Society, the types of breast cancer that are most likely to recur are inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. 

Recurrence risk by BC stage

There is an association between the stage of breast cancer at first diagnosis and the risk of recurrence. 

Patients diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer are more likely to have their cancer recur compared to those who had Stage 1 or Stage 2 breast cancer at the time of diagnosis.

Typically, the recurrence rate of Stage 1 breast cancer is less than 10% over 10 years, while that of Stage 2 breast cancer is around 10 to 20%.

The recurrence rates of Stage 3 breast cancer range between 30 and 50% over 10 years.

Recurrence risk by age

Research has shown that the risk of breast cancer recurrence is also greater in patients who were younger than age 35 when they were first diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Treatments to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence

Radiation therapy can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. For example, the risk of BC recurrence in patients whose axillary lymph nodes are cancerous drops from 25% to 6% if the patient receives radiation therapy following a mastectomy.

Continuing adjuvant therapy like endocrine therapy for hormone-receptor-positive BC can also significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence for 10 or more years after first diagnosis.

Chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapies that eliminate any residual cancer cells may also help in reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Follow-up plans tailored to risk factors like the hormone receptor status of the cancer, initial size of the tumor and whether or not the lymph nodes were involved can also reduce the risk of recurrence.

Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence

Finally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting the consumption of alcohol can all be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Regular surveillance with mammograms and other imaging techniques is also important, as they can help detect any recurrence as early as possible.