One question that comes to mind at least once in the mind of anyone undergoing treatment for breast cancer is, 'Is this disease completely gone now?' That fear is very reasonable. But the good news is that most of the time, breast cancer does not come back. However, sometimes it can.
If it comes back, we call it a ' recurrence' . There are several ways this can happen. One is that it comes back in the same breast as the original cancer or in a nearby area. Sometimes it can spread to nearby lymph nodes. Other times, it can spread to distant parts of the body, such as the bones or lungs.
What is the doctor focusing on?
From the time you are first diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctors will check for factors that increase your risk of it coming back. This information will help them decide what treatment is best for you.
"We can't say with 100% certainty that cancer will come back. But we can now predict it with a much higher probability than before," says a specialist.
There have been great advances in this field over the past 10 years, especially in estrogen -receptor positive cancers.
Simply put, the larger the tumor, the more it has spread to other tissues, the higher the risk of recurrence. Also, the biology of the cancer is very important. That is, what specific receptors are present on the cancer cells. For example, a type of breast cancer called ``triple-negative'' (that is, a cancer that lacks all three receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2) is slightly more likely to recur.
| Things to consider when assessing risk | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Your age and whether you have gone through menopause | Age and hormone levels can affect risk. |
| Tumor size | Larger tumors are generally associated with a higher risk of recurrence. |
| Whether it has spread to the lymph nodes | The presence of cancer cells in the stool indicates the potential for cancer to spread. |
| Receptor status of cancer | Treatment and risk vary depending on whether the cancer is ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive, or triple-negative. |
Special tests that look more deeply into the risk
Sometimes, if the cancer is quite large or has spread to the lymph nodes, it's hard to say exactly what the risk is. Doctors call this a 'gray zone.'
In cases like this, there are special tests that can provide more information . However, not all of these tests are suitable for every type of cancer.
- Oncotype DX: This is the most commonly used test. It looks at 21 genes in a small sample of your cancer. Depending on how well those genes work, you get a 'recurrence score' between 0 and 100. This score can help your doctor understand how likely your cancer is to come back in the future and whether you'll benefit from chemotherapy. However, this test can only be done for cancers that are estrogen-receptor positive and haven't spread to the lymph nodes.
- Other tests: There are also tests called `(MammaPrint)`, `(Breast Cancer Index)`, `(Pam50)`, and `(EndoPredict)`. Some of these help predict the risk of cancer coming back after five years.
Future blood tests
A group of researchers is currently trying to develop a blood test that can detect whether cancer is likely to recur.
This type of test is very important after all treatments have been completed, when there is no cancer tissue left to examine.
"If we can know exactly who will develop the cancer again, we can decide whether they need additional treatment. Then we can start researching new treatments that work for them faster," says one of the scientists involved in the research. "Our ultimate goal is to prevent metastatic breast cancer, which is difficult to manage and accounts for 90% of breast cancer deaths."
However, it is said that it will take several more years to develop a blood test that can be used by doctors .
What can you do?
Until scientists find new tests like this, there are things you can do. Your daily habits can help reduce this risk. For example, it's important to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight .
Another thing to remember is that the risk of recurrence and survival rates are two different things . This is very important. Imagine someone who has breast cancer, gets treatment, and then the cancer comes back two years later. But if it's found early, that person can live well for decades.
So, don't miss any of your follow-up appointments . If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask your doctor.
"It's important to talk to your doctor and understand exactly what your personal risk is and what it means. This will help you make the right decisions about your treatment. Dealing with cancer can be a scary, confusing experience. So you need to feel comfortable talking to your doctor about your fears."
Take-Home Message
- Most of the time, breast cancer does not recur after treatment, so don't be unnecessarily afraid.
- The risk of cancer coming back depends on factors such as the size of the tumor, the spread to nearby tissues, and the biological type of cancer.
- To know your exact risk and choose the best treatment, doctors can use special tests like Oncotype DX.
- You can also help reduce this risk by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight.
- The most important thing is to talk openly with your doctor. Listen to all your fears and questions. It's also very important for your mental health.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න