Signs of Cancer Recurrence in New Areas

This is a great question and I wish there were an easy answer! After you are diagnosed with breast cancer, and complete the treatment, you should continue to follow up with your medical oncology team (possibly breast surgeon and radiation oncology team for a period of time too) for a history and physical (H&P) exam. The recommendation is that you do this up to 4 times a year for 5 years after completion of treatment. For example, you may see your oncology team every 2-3 months for the first year, and then shift to every 4 months after that. It isn’t set in stone, and really it is important that you discuss the timing of your follow up with your provider and feel good with the plan. If you are on endocrine therapy, for example, you may continue this beyond 5 years, depending on how long that treatment is recommended for. You will continue with recommended breast imaging as well. In the first 1-2 years, you may also alternate between providers, if you continue to see your surgeon, and radiation oncologist instead of seeing all of them at the same time. It is at these visits that you will be examined and hopefully, receive reassurance that you do not have any signs of cancer recurrence based on your exam. If you are having concerning symptoms, you should report them at any time, especially at the time of your H&P. This will allow for your provider to arrange any necessary tests to evaluate you further. Symptoms can be very different for each person and may be unrelated to a spread of the cancer, but a sign of another illness. Some of these symptoms include, back, bone, or joint pain that does not go away difficulty urinating, numbness or weakness anywhere in your body, a constant dry cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, pain, or tenderness, constant nausea, vomiting, or weight loss, jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of your eyes), severe headaches, vision problems, seizures, loss of balance or confusion (source https://www.breastcancer.org/types/metastatic#section-symptoms-and-diagnosis-of-metastatic-breast-cancer).

Recognizing signs of cancer recurrence in different parts of the body is an important concern that many patients share. While symptoms can vary depending on where cancer might spread, it's essential to stay in close communication with your healthcare team about any new or changing symptoms you experience. Your medical team can provide personalized guidance on what specific signs to watch for based on your individual situation and can recommend appropriate monitoring through regular check-ups, imaging, or blood work.