Question 1

what are the odds of a breast cancer recurrence?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Tumor factors - based on TNM staging, receptor status, grade etc
treatment factors - optimal therapy vs. Not
patient factors - genetic predisposition - this is rarely the issue
time factor - longer the time lapse since initial therapy, lesser the odds.

Question 2

what is the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence?

Accepted Answer

Variable.: Breast cancer may recur either in the breast ("local recurrence") or elsewhere in the body (distant metastasis).  The risk of metastasis varies from very low to high, and is correlated with the stage of the cancer;  the stage is associated with the size of the cancer and lymph node involvement.  Local recurrence following lumpectomy and radiation therapy is less than 5%.

Question 3

does most women with stage 2 breast cancer always have a recurrence?

Accepted Answer

No: At least 80% survival at 5 years without breast cancer recurrence, but depends more on cell type, hormone receptors, dna of the tumor cells, response to treatments, etc the oncologist would have much more information specific to this situation.

Question 4

how to stop fearing that i am going to die from recurrence of breast cancer?

Accepted Answer

Get support: This is a natural thought for many people.  I hope that your current disease is controlled, if not you should speak to your oncology team.  It may help you to see  a therapist or psychiatriast who can help determine where this fear is originating (it maybe much deeper than your own disease).  You may also want to find out ways to decrease your recurrence (medication, prophylactic mastectomy, etc).

Question 5

what is the genetic recurrence of breast cancer?

Accepted Answer

10-15% Hereditary: We believe that only 10-15% of breast cancers are hereditary, with the rest being environmental in origin.  People w/the hereditary form of breast cancer tend to get diagnosed earlier in life and may get cancer in both breasts.  When treated by lumpectomy or (single) mastectomy, it is not uncommon to develop a second, unrelated breast cancer; therefore, many opt for double mastectomies.

Question 6

do most women with stage 2a breast cancer always have a recurrence?

Accepted Answer

NO: There is never an always or never a never in medicine.  All patients are individuals

Question 7

can triple negative breast cancer recurrence be considered rare after 5 years?

Accepted Answer

Not really: The chance of having breast cancer recur is about the same for every year that you are alive. The chance of having cancer come back in the tenth year after treatment is not significantly lower than having it come back in the fifth year after treatment. 

For more info:
http://www.Ccij-online.Org/article.Asp?Issn=2278-0513;year=2012;volume=1;issue=4;spage=201;epage=205;aulast=saha.

Question 8

what are the chances of local recurrence for stage 1a breast cancer? is it more difficult to treat?

Accepted Answer

Stage 1A breast ca.: Early breast cancers when removed have a very high chance of avoiding local recurrence, depending on the use of radiation and/or chemotherapy.  Other locations can develop into cancer, so get annual digital mammograms to be sure another primary has not formed.  Many patients take medications like Tamoxiphen to decrease the recurrence rate.

Question 9

can an oopherectomy reduce breast cancer recurrence in premenopausal women?

Accepted Answer

Quite possibly: Removing the ovaries dramatically decreases your estrogen production. Any estrogen responsive or estrogen receptor positive cancers will lose that stimulation, and decrease the chance of developing that type of cancer. Recurrence risk of estrogen receptor positive cancers will decline.

Question 10

which test is more accurate in detecting breast cancer recurrence: a pet or an ultrasound?

Accepted Answer

Depends: This depends on if your are looking for local recurrence in the breast (ultrasound can help) or distant recurrence (in other organs outside the breast)-pet is better.
They are both great tests.  If you have concerns, i recommend contacting your oncology team and consider getting a second opinion.

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Doctor answers about:

Breast cancer recurrence risk calculator

A member asked:

What are the odds of a breast cancer recurrence?

A member asked:

What is the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence?

A member asked:

Does most women with stage 2 breast cancer always have a recurrence?

A member asked:

How to stop fearing that i am going to die from recurrence of breast cancer?

A member asked:

What is the genetic recurrence of breast cancer?

A member asked:

Do most women with stage 2a breast cancer always have a recurrence?

A member asked:

Can triple negative breast cancer recurrence be considered rare after 5 years?

A member asked:

What are the chances of local recurrence for stage 1a breast cancer? is it more difficult to treat?

A member asked:

Can an oopherectomy reduce breast cancer recurrence in premenopausal women?

A member asked:

Which test is more accurate in detecting breast cancer recurrence: a pet or an ultrasound?

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