How To Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence

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How to prevent breast cancer recurrence acknowledges the existing risk of breast cancer resurfacing after treatment up to twenty years later, according to a study.

Research Method

Precisely, 63,000 women with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer were studied. The women had been treated with hormonal therapy, with medications that block estrogen’s effects for five years, thereby helping to prevent a cancer recurrence.

For the study, the 63,000 women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer, after earlier treatment with surgery, and sometimes chemotherapy, all had five years of hormonal therapy. Many had the drug Tamoxifen, sometimes with newer hormonal drugs called aromatase inhibitors.

Research Findings

Women remain cancer-free for 5 years, but recurrence high

The finding stated that while the women remained cancer-free for those five years, the risk for recurrence in the next 15 years was still high. The odds of cancer recurrence in such tissue as the bones, liver, or lungs are as high as 41%. The risk is greatest for women whose earlier diagnosis showed cancer had moved to several lymph nodes near the breast.

Although there has been further advance in the treatment of breast cancer, the data is still causing concern. However, the finding provides doctors and women with more information to enable treatment decisions. For instance, women can go for more than five years of hormonal therapy.

Longer treatment reduces the risk of recurrence

Firstly, studies have confirmed that longer treatment reduces the risk of recurrence. The downside of extra years of side effects remains. Such as hot flashes, loss of sexual libido, and joint pain. But at least women have the choice to weigh the effect of longer treatment vis-a-vis the discomforting side effects.

Secondly, women with no affected lymph nodes faced a 13 to 19% chance of a distant recurrence in the 15 years after concluding their hormonal therapy. For those with one to three affected nodes, the odds of a distant recurrence were 20 to 26%. For women with four to nine nodes affected, the chances of such recurrence were 34 to 41%.

Women in these breast cancer recurrence situations should discuss longer-term hormonal therapy with their doctor. A point to note is that additional hormonal therapy won’t erase the possibility of a recurrence. Or change the 13% risk to zero risks. However, it can reduce the risk.