| One of the issues that every breast cancer | | | | Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic |
| survivor must deal with is the possibility of | | | | disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The |
| the cancer coming back. We call this a | | | | survival rate becomes much lower once |
| recurrence and even though rates of breast | | | | metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of |
| cancer recurrence are lower and survival | | | | 18 months on the average after discovering |
| rates much higher, there is still that chance | | | | it.Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may |
| that the breast cancer will come back after | | | | include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack |
| the initial occurrence and treatment. There | | | | of appetite, weight loss (possible indication |
| are three ways in which breast cancer can | | | | of liver metastases, neurological pain or |
| recur.The first type of recurrence is called | | | | weakness and headaches.If you are a breast |
| a local recurrence. when cancer recurs | | | | cancer survivor, you should be aware of the |
| locally, it will come back in the original | | | | symptoms of metastatic spread. These |
| breast area. This is because of a failure of | | | | symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight |
| the original treatment. Even when there is a | | | | loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), |
| mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen | | | | headaches (brain), neurological pain or |
| because it is impossible remove all the | | | | weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of |
| breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. | | | | breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that |
| If even one cancer cell remains after the | | | | having one or more of these symptoms does not |
| initial treatment, a local recurrence can | | | | mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb |
| happen.The second type of recurrence is | | | | is the "three week rule". If you have a pain |
| regional in nature. By regional we mean that | | | | or other symptom that lasts more than three |
| the cancer has come back outside of the | | | | week, see your doctor. If you have an |
| original breast and lymph node area. This is | | | | unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a |
| considered to be more serious than a local | | | | doctor. Cancer pain does not go away |
| recurrence, but not as serious as a distant | | | | compared other types of pain which will come |
| recurrence. The areas in which regional | | | | and go. Like back pain caused by muscle |
| spread of the disease occur include the chest | | | | spasms and/or non-cancer related disc |
| muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes | | | | problem.If you suspect you have a recurrence |
| surrounding the neck area, the internal | | | | of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will |
| breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib | | | | schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT |
| areas and in the lymph nodes above the | | | | scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the |
| collarbone. This type of recurrence is | | | | root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is |
| rare.The third and most serious type of | | | | not a treatment option, but there are many |
| recurrence is called a distant recurrence. | | | | other treatments, like radiation and/or |
| This is also referred to as a metastasis. | | | | chemotherapy that could possibly put a |
| The areas where distant spread can occur are | | | | recurring cancer back into remission. There |
| most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, | | | | are amazing advances in treatment being made |
| brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. | | | | all the time. |