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A Q&A on breast cancer recurrence
Ebony, Oct, 2005
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society. There are currently more than 2 million women living in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with the disease. Edith P. Mitchell, M.D., clinical professor of medicine of the division of medical oncology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia talked with EBONY about breast cancer recurrence and treatment options for women who have fought--and continue to fight--to survive.
Q: How common is it for breast cancer to recur?
A: There is between a 20 to 50 percent risk that breast cancer can come back. However, with early screening and taking treatment after surgery, we find fewer recurrences from breast cancer.
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Q: Where in the breast does breast cancer usually recur?
A. Recurrence does not usually recur in the breast. The primary management of breast cancer usually eliminates cancer from the chest wall and from the breast itself. Recurrences usually occur in other areas such as the bones, the lungs, the liver or the brain.
Q: When is recurrence likely to happen?
A: Women's risk of recurrence is highest in the five years immediately following diagnosis, peaking within the first three years. Yet recurrences can occur many years after the initial treatment of breast cancer.
Q: What increases the possibility of breast cancer returning?
A: By far, the most important predictive factor is whether or not there is the spread of tumor or cancer to lymph nodes under the arm. Other risk factors include the size of the tumor. Then you have to look at the presence or absence of hormonal receptors on the breast cancer. Tumors that have high levels of either estrogen or progesterone receptors have a decreased chance of recurrence.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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