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By Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS
“Your breast cancer has recurred,” is the phrase
that breast cancer survivors fear most. As an administrative
director at a well-known breast oncology center who counsels
breast cancer patients, my goal is to provide women with
the best tools for survival. However, arming oneself with
information is only half the battle in eradicating the cancer
and preventing its recurrence. While women who face recurrence
experience a variety of emotions, most often they want to
know what more they could have done to prevent the cancer
from coming back.
Unfortunately, there is no single way to prevent breast
cancer from recurring, but there are steps one can take
to reduce the chances of a recurrence. We know that the
risk of recurrence is highest in the five years immediately
following diagnosis, peaking within the first three years.
Therefore, regarding treatment, it’s what you do first
that matters most. Studies show that breast cancer is less
likely to recur if a woman is first and foremost treated
with adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy,
along with surgery. [1]
Just as important as choosing the most effective treatment
is sticking to the prescribed treatment regimen. Strict
adherence to a recommended treatment is one of the best
things a woman can do to help ward off a recurrence. I know
this can be tough, especially for women dealing with unpleasant
side effects. I get emails everyday from women who are reluctant
to tell their oncologists that they aren’t taking
their medication as prescribed. Some women take their hormonal
therapy every other day in hopes they will have half the
side effects. Whether it’s making it to a chemotherapy
appointment or remembering to take one’s hormonal
therapy everyday, every little bit counts. There will be
days when this seems a more daunting challenge than others.
Talk to your oncologist about ways to ease side effects
or about ways to help finance medication. You can also enlist
the support of a friend or loved one to help you over these
rough patches and keep you on course.
Finally, beating breast cancer doesn’t stop when
treatment ends or when a patient is cancer free. Regular
check-ups and mammography screenings are essential. Thankfully,
nearly one-third of breast cancer recurrences are detected
by mammography and about one-half are located by physical
exam.[2]
[1] Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative
Group. Tamoxifen for early breast cancer: and overview of
the randomized trials. Lancet. 1998:351:1451-1467
[2] Orel SG, Troupin RH, Patterson, et al. (1992): Brest
cancer recurrence after lumpectomy and irradiation: role
of mammography in detection. Radiology. 183(1): 201-206.
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