WHEN BREAST CANCER RECURS

When a cancer has developed in the breast itself it is called a primary cancer. Any subsequent breast cancer near the original finding is called a local recurrence. Additional surgery and/or radiation therapy may then be recommended. If you have a local recurrence after breast conserving treatment, the breast may then be treated by mastectomy. Studies have shown that women who choose breast conserving treatment first, and then have a mastectomy, will have the same long-term outcome. If breast cancer cells are detected in other parts of the body, this is called metastasis (distant recurrence). When this happens systemic chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy are the treatments of choice.