Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : October 12, 2017 10:18 AM IST
Early detection and timely treatment of breast cancer help to remove the cancer from the breast and prevent a recurrence. However, no one can predict the chances of a recurrence. A recurrence happens when the cancer comes back after the treatment either in the same site or spreads to other parts of the body. Many people believe in the myth that the breast which had suffered cancer once might not get it back again, but this is not true. We spoke to Dr Rucha Kaushik, breast cancer surgeon, P D Hinduja hospital and research centre, Mumbai to know more about breast cancer recurrence and if it can come back in the same breast or the local site. According to her, It is rare but there is a fair amount of chance that the cancer can recur in the same breast even after the breast has been treated and is supposedly cancer-free. Here are eight unusual signs of breast cancer recurrence that you should know.
Recurrence of cancer in the same breast
Breast cancer recurrence in the same breast can be picked up in a mammogram or a physical examination during a regular follow-up. Breast cancer patients are advised to be regular with their follow-ups post surgery and treatment so a recurrence can be picked up soon and treated on time. Here is all you need to know about breast cancer recurrence.
If a lumpectomy (removal of the cancerous part of the breast) was done following a breast reconstructive surgery to remove the cancer previously, the cancer can return to the same breast in the healthy tissues. A surgery along with either chemotherapy or radiation or both are done to get rid of the cancer the second time. Usually, a mastectomy (removal of the whole breast) is done to get rid of the cancer if it comes back in the same breast.
If a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) was done previously to remove the cancer, the recurrence might happen in the chest area, especially if there were more cancerous lymph nodes present during the surgery or there were remnant breast tissues after the surgery. To treat recurrence after mastectomy, a surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation or both are done to remove the cancer. A breast reconstructive surgery can be done to aesthetically enhance the breasts after treatment.
Recurrence of breast cancer in other parts of the body
Sometimes breast cancer recurrence can happen in other parts of the body or get metastasised. The most common parts to suffer recurrences are bones, liver, lungs or the brain. It can also happen in the other breast which was disease-free before. Regular follow-ups and check-ups can help one diagnose and get treated for the same right on time.
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