Why is there a recurrence of Breast cancer after Mastectomy?
Breast cancer that returns after the first therapy is referred to as recurrent breast cancer. Even though the initial course of treatment aims to eradicate all cancer cells, some may have escaped and survived. Recurrent breast cancer after Mastectomy develops due to these cancer cells growing unnoticed.
To know more about the recurrence after Mastectomy, read till the end!!
What is the percentage of breast cancer recurrence after Mastectomy?
Local breast cancer recurrences are most common within five years of lumpectomy. There is a 3% to 15% chance of breast cancer recurrence after Mastectomy within 10 years of compiled treatment. Radiation therapy administered later on can help in reducing the risk.
The breast cancer recurrence rate varies from person to person.
If the doctors didn't identify cancer in the axillary lymph nodes during the initial operation, there is a 6% risk that it will come back in the next five years.
If axillary lymph nodes are malignant, there is a one in four likelihood of a cancer recurrence. If radiation therapy is administered following the Mastectomy, this risk is reduced to 6%.
What type of breast cancer has the highest recurrence rate after Mastectomy?
People with inflammatory breast cancer have the highest risk of developing breast cancer after a Mastectomy.
The most common cancer that can occur in breast cancer patients is breast cancer in other breasts after Mastectomy. Breast cancer can recur in the other or the same breast.
Depending on the type of cancer treatment procedure, there are many chances of developing the following cancers after Mastectomy:
- Ovarian cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Soft tissue cancer (sarcoma)
- Melanoma of the skin
Are you worried about the chances of getting breast cancer after a Mastectomy? Read on to find answers to all your questions.
Can you get Breast cancer in a reconstructed breast?
Breast reconstruction is primarily meant for breast cancer patients who choose to reshape and rebuild the appearance of their breasts. Breast reconstruction is mainly done after lumpectomy or Mastectomy.
The main question which might arise here is, does breast reconstruction cause cancer to come back?
Yes, it is possible to develop breast cancer in a reconstructed breast. It is a surgical procedure that aims to restore the shape of the breast after mastectomy, but it does not lower the risk of cancer recurrence. Various studies show slight to no chances of breast cancer recurrence after the reconstruction surgery. In some cases, the reconstruction process may involve the use of radiation therapy, which can increase the risk of cancer. Also, the reconstructed breast may contain residual breast tissue that could still be susceptible to cancer.
Although, if, by chance, cancer comes back, the reconstruction surgery does not pose any problem in identifying cancer and treating it.
For these reasons, it is crucial for women who have undergone breast reconstruction to have regular follow-up care and screenings, such as mammograms, to detect any changes or new tumors early. You should also talk to your doctor about individual risk factors and any steps you can take to minimize the risk of cancer recurrence.
Does Mastectomy reduce cancer recurrence?
During breast cancer treatment, you can decide if you want to have one or both breasts reconstructed. Women do double Mastectomies to reduce the chances of recurrence of breast cancer in the future.
According to Ellis Levine, Breast cancer survivors do not always have a higher chance of developing other cancers than non-breast cancer survivors. There are significantly fewer chances of developing another type of cancer unless there is an underlying inherited genetic abnormality.
There are meager chances of developing breast cancer after a Mastectomy or lumpectomy.
If there is any breast cancer recurrence after a double Mastectomy, it would probably not form along the chest wall but in distant organs such as the lung, liver, bones, or, less frequently, the brain.
Dr. Jenn Simmons has quoted her views here -
Statistically speaking, when we look at local recurrence, or recurrence in the area of the breast, lumpectomy does carry a slightly higher local recurrence rate. This is because of the volume of breast tissue that remains after lumpectomy as compared to mastectomy. However, local recurrence, or recurrence in the breast, is not a factor that we should be looking at. This is because local recurrence does not affect survival. The only meaningful statistic with regard to breast cancer treatment is survival and survival is exactly the same if you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.
Is it possible to detect Breast cancer after DIEP flap breast reconstruction?
This is a crucial topic that is rarely discussed.
Few studies have demonstrated that DIEP flap breast reconstruction does not affect local recurrence or long-term survival in individuals with early breast cancer (stages I and II). Patients with stage I and stage II illness have the same local recurrence rates and survival times whether they get immediate breast reconstruction. For this reason, wherever possible, most institutions provide urgent breast reconstruction to patients with early-stage breast cancer.
Breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap or any other technique had no impact on survival or the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Read below to know what steps you can take to reduce your chances of breast cancer recurrence after Mastectomy!!
How can you reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence after Mastectomy?
Every person who has survived breast cancer always fears breast cancer recurrence after Mastectomy and reconstruction.
Try following these healthy practices to help yourself manage the side effects of breast cancer therapy and lower your risk of breast cancer recurrence:
1. Prioritize your emotional health:
- Always put your need before everything else and search for cancer support groups to find and talk with cancer survivors.
- Keep yourself up to date about the new developments in the field of cancer.
- Regularly communicate with your doctor and take psychotherapy if needed.
2. Stay physically fit: Exercise regularly while maintaining a healthy diet. Reduce smoking or alcohol consumption.
3. Eat healthily: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and try having organic food as much as possible. Reduce intake of trans fat and increase fiber intake.
4. Reduce stress: As a breast cancer survivor, your life has undoubtedly been stressful for a while. It has been demonstrated that finding techniques to manage stress can increase overall survival. The good news is that your and your family's lives will become more tranquil.
Breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy survival rate
Every breast cancer survivor has a recurrence risk. The majority of those who are diagnosed with breast cancer never experience a recurrence.
If you have early breast cancer, one important choice you may have to make is whether to have a lumpectomy plus radiation therapy or a mastectomy. When treating early breast cancer, they are equally effective.
Both Mastectomy and lumpectomy result in an identical overall survival rate. This indicates that the risk of death is reduced equally by both therapies.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8328-breast-cancer-recurrence
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/reconstruction-surgery.html
https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/202006/can-breast-cancer-return-after-double-mastectomy
