Odds That Breast Cancer Will Return

There is always a chance of breast cancer recurring, but this chance is higher in women whose lymph nodes were initially affected, or who had larger or more aggressive tumors. Most cases of recurrent breast cancer crop up in the first three to five years after treatment, but breast cancer can come back at any time, and not just in the breast. Breast cancer could strike anywhere in the body, most commonly the lymph nodes, lungs, bones or liver. Since recurrence is always a possibility, you must continue to be diligent about performing breast self-exams and keeping scheduled appointments with your doctor for the rest of your life. Be proactive in asking your doctor about symptoms of recurrence and reporting anything out of the ordinary, not just with your breasts.