BREAST CANCER, METASTATIC OR RECURRENT

TYPES

The types of breast cancer are:

• Angiosarcoma
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Invasive lobular carcinoma
• Male breast cancer
• Paget’s disease of the breast
• Recurrent breast cancer

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of recurrent breast cancer are dependent upon where cancer has returned.

Local recurrence

In local recurrence, cancer returns in the same area.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Another mass in your breast or some firmness
• Changes to the skin of your breast
• Skin inflammation
• Areola or nipple discharge

Regional recurrence

Regional recurrence means that cancer has reformed in the adjacent lymph nodes.

Signs and symptoms of regional recurrence include a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes that are found:

• Under your arm
• Close to your collarbone
• An area above the collarbone
• In your neck

Distant recurrence

A distant (metastatic) recurrence suggests cancer has spread out to other areas of the body, usually the bones, liver, and lungs.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Persistent cough
• Trouble breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Extreme headaches
• Seizures

DIAGNOSIS

If your doctor suspects that you may have recurrent breast cancer, he or she may request for a mammogram or do physical exam.

Tests may include:

• Imaging tests
• Removing a tissue sample for lab testing (biopsy)

TREATMENT

Treating an area recurrence

Treatment for an area recurrence starts with surgery and may include radiation if you haven’t had it beforehand.

• Surgery
• Radiation treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone treatment
• Targeted therapy

Treating a regional recurrence

Treatments include:

• Surgery
• Radiation treatment
• Chemotherapy

Treating a metastatic recurrence

Treatments may include:

• Hormone treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Bone-building drugs
• Other treatments