| One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor | | | | Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease |
| must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming | | | | or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate |
| back. We call this a recurrence and even though | | | | becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a |
| rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and | | | | life expectancy of 18 months on the average after |
| survival rates much higher, there is still that chance | | | | discovering it. |
| that the breast cancer will come back after the initial | | | | Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include |
| occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in | | | | bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, |
| which breast cancer can recur. | | | | weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, |
| The first type of recurrence is called a local | | | | neurological pain or weakness and headaches. |
| recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come | | | | If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be |
| back in the original breast area. This is because of a | | | | aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These |
| failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a | | | | symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss |
| mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because | | | | (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), |
| it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and | | | | neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and |
| fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains | | | | shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind |
| after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can | | | | that having one or more of these symptoms does |
| happen. | | | | not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is |
| The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. | | | | the "three week rule". If you have a pain or other |
| By regional we mean that the cancer has come back | | | | symptom that lasts more than three week, see your |
| outside of the original breast and lymph node area. | | | | doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant |
| This is considered to be more serious than a local | | | | pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away |
| recurrence, but not as serious as a distant | | | | compared other types of pain which will come and |
| recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the | | | | go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or |
| disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), | | | | non-cancer related disc problem. |
| the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the | | | | If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast |
| internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and | | | | cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some |
| rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the | | | | diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI |
| collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare. | | | | to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually |
| The third and most serious type of recurrence is | | | | surgery is not a treatment option, but there are |
| called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as | | | | many other treatments, like radiation and/or |
| a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can | | | | chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring |
| occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, | | | | cancer back into remission. There are amazing |
| brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. | | | | advances in treatment being made all the time. |