AskAwayHealth

Sign in to your account

Don't have an account?

Create an account
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more
Black medical doctor in a white coat and red stethoscope examining a patient on a ward. Our doctors on askawayhealth have years of clinical experience to provide top notch care.

Need to check your symptoms?

Use our symptom checker to help determine what your symptoms are and to ensure you get the help you need.

Check your symptoms

AskAwayHealth

Request a reset

Don't have an account?

Create an account

AskAwayHealth

Reset your password

Don't have an account?

Create an account

AskAwayHealth

Chances of Breast Cancer Coming Back After Chemotherapy

February 9, 2020

What are the chances of recurrence of Breast Cancer after chemotherapy? Aerial view iof a colorful grove of trees.

The fear of Breast Cancer returning (recurrence of breast cancer) is a crucial topic to discuss – read our thoughts on this below.


Some women who have survived breast cancer are scared of a recurrence and it’s a question that lingers – will it come back; and when?

The chances of breast cancer recurrence either as another lump or from spread to another organ depend on more than one factor.


What Makes It Likely Breast Cancer Will Come Back?

They include:

  • the type, grade and stage of the cancer when it was detected,
  • the treatment options used
  • as well as the lady’s state of health and other previous medical problems.

To date, we do not have any form of chemotherapy that can totally cure breast cancer.

Rather, chemotherapy is used after surgery or radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the recurrence of breast cancer.

Predicting recurrence is not very straightforward.

Generally, if detected early, and treatment successfully removes the primary cancer then the risk of recurrence is low.

This is not always the case, though as the type of cancer and one’s family history may also contribute to the risk of recurrence.

This is a good place to discuss how breast cancer spreads.


How Breast Cancer Spreads

We already know malignant tissues grow into cells immediately next to them and this is how cancer grows, by invading other tissues.

But in addition to this, the cancer cells can also travel in the bloodstream and the other transport system in the body called the lymphatic system.

This is how cancer from the breast could spread to the liver or bone or brain.

It is also why it could be difficult to predict recurrence and only estimates are possible.

Want to learn more about Breast Cancer or Chemotherapy?

Read here and:


Editing by AskAwayHealth Team

Disclaimer

All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising  Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through info@askawayhealth.org

Credit – Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Share this blog article

On this page

Let us know what you think

Want to know how your comment data is processed? Learn more

Access over 600 resources & our monthly newsletter.

Askawayhealth 2023 grant recipient from European Union Development Fund

Askawayhealth, 2023 Award Recipient

Our educational content meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance.

Askawayhealth aims to deliver reliable and evidence based women's health, family health and sexual health information in a way that is easily relatable and easy for everyone to access.

Askawayhealth symptom Checker tool image

Utilize our complimentary symptom checker tool to gain more information about any uncertain symptoms you might have.