Breast cancer return after mastectomy

I’m in that category too, with bilateral cancer. But I was given the 95% figure same as everyone. You may also read that 30% of women diagnosed with primary breast cancer have secondaries, but that mostly relates to women who have breast cancer in the lymph nodes, which even on this forum we can see happens a lot. That’s not the same as full blown secondary breast cancer, however.

I was recently told by my oncologist surgeon that even if I had a mastectomy, it could come back in the future and is no guarantee. I opted to take her advice and recently had a lumpectomy and will have yearly mammograms for 5 years and medication. I do believe some women think that following mastectomy cancer can't return, so there definitely needs to be better information out there to make women are aware. Do you think it all depends upon where you are treated?

I did a bit of informal internet research and that 94-96% figure was repeated in different countries, with different treatment pathways. What is relatively poor in UK is 5 and 10 year survival from secondary breast cancer, and that is largely put down to lack of awareness (GPs as well as patients themselves). Still by ‘poor’ I’m talking high 80s per cent, rather than low 90s as in the rest of Europe. I personally know a couple of women who’ve lived with secondary breast cancer for 15 years and are still going strong (with top up chemo courses and drugs like Herceptin). 

We greatly increase our chances if we are aware of the risks of secondary cancer and push for tests if we need them. One of the most powerful things we can do, if finding ourselves unwell in future us to say “Doctor, I’m worried about secondary breast cancer. Can you make sure this is not that please?”. That draws the doctors attention to the possibility and puts  them in the position of proving your worries wrong. 

Disclaimer: I’m not medically trained, I’m just a nosey patient likes to know stuff. Please check out what I’ve said with your medical team

This is very interesting, I've had lumpectomy and was waiting on an oncotype score to come back to see if I needed chemo ,and the score came back at 36 do I need chemo.. Dr told me I had dense breast tissue, I haven't a clue what that means and just wondering if you do and has it anything to do with cancer recurring..i will glady sign any petition , thankyou

Dense breast tissue makes it hard to see tumours via scans, and also makes it hard to feel cancerous lumps yourself. It’s not a medical problem per se but a type of breast that is more difficult to examine. I have dense breasts too and am taking part in a study. Hope you don’t have further issues - and all the best to Tannsmoore for your treatment. Sorry you’re going through this but thank you for reminding us to keep a look out fir secondary breast cancer, even if we’ve had mastectomies 

Hi,  Sorry to hear about your recurrence 

I have had a right sided mastectomy and will have yearly check ups but not actually on the site of the cancer but on the other breast? I wasn't aware of this and would certainly support a campaign.  Must be some sort of diagnostic testing they can do on the scar that would help check for recurrence. 

Had I not have had a mastectomy, but lumpectomy, then would yearly mammogram be on both breasts?

I wonder what the % of recurrence is at original site  to % of getting cancer in the other breast ? 

I feel women are getting let down  if no follow up checks are done on original cancer site :-(

Take care x

Hi Anabrock, 

What Study are you taking participating in for dense breast tissue? I'm interested because I have Category D breast tissue ie 75% of the breast tissue is dense and I had an Interval Cancer only months after a mammogram, plus calcifications were not biopsied, so I'm always telling women to ask if they have dense breast tissue when they have their mammos, I had my first ever Breast MRI a week ago, I only wished they had done MRI's in previous years, they are the best in relation to dense breast tissue.

I am going to mention this when I have my follow up check with Breast Surgeon in December. I can't work out why my mammograms were clear 3 years ago then in Jan so much cancer suddenly got there in both dense breasts. Radiotherapy said yearly mammograms from now on but it is the Surgeon who makes the real decision. I mentionned future  MRIs to the lead Radiotherapist who spoke to me on a perfunctory phone consultation (pity she couldn't see my red rashy breast) and she said it would be too much radiation. I wasn't enough on the ball at the time to inform her that an MRI scan doesn't involve radiation. I was fed up with her attitude really - as in dismissive and defensive. She took the view that her Department had given me enough radiation for cancer not to come back, so why was I not happy for a cancer free future ?

Hi Deeds, that's for your Oncologist to discuss with you to help you make a decision. Your Onco score seems high to me, but based on age as well. Will try to send you a link I found before.

Hi , yes I have dense breast tissue as well .My surgeon felt my breasts and couldn’t feel anything . The tumours were only discovered via mammogram on one side and CT on the other .

Just goes to show how important both tests are .,,,,,