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Breast Cancer,Metastatic or Recurrent - What Increases Your Risk

You have a risk of having metastatic or recurrent breast cancer if you have ever had breast cancer. Although the exact cause of breast cancer is not known, older women have the highest risk.

Recurrent breast cancer

Breast cancer recurs in less than a third of all women after the initial diagnosis. Recurrence is highest in the first 5 years after treatment but can occur at any time.^1,⁴ The recurrence of breast cancer depends on many factors. No one can predict who will have recurrent breast cancer. But information about your breast cancer-such as the stage, how it looks under the microscope (classification), whether you had positive lymph nodes, and whether you have hormone receptors-can help predict how you will respond to treatment.

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Protecting Fertility During Breast Cancer Treatment

In many cases, breast cancer treatment involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two. These treatments can affect your reproductive system and, as a result, your fertility. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells which divide rapidly. However, these drugs also kill some healthy cells, including those involved in the production of eggs, which also divide rapidly. The type of chemotherapy drug or drugs used, the length of treatment, and the person's age...

Read the Protecting Fertility During Breast Cancer Treatment article > >

Metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer doesn't usually show up until many months to years after the initial diagnosis of breast cancer. In a very small number of women, breast cancer has already traveled to another part of the body by the time the cancer is diagnosed.¹

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 22, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.