Cancer recurrence varies greatly from person to person, and many factors influence whether cancer returns, including the type and stage at diagnosis, treatment received, and individual health factors. What's encouraging is that breast cancer treatments continue to improve, and many people go on to live full, healthy lives after treatment - connecting with others in this community who understand your concerns can provide valuable support and real experiences during this time.

Hello Trina my name is Amber & I am about to turn 44 next month. April 2025 I was diagnosed with DCIS in situ stage 0-1. My mother was diagnosed at 46 stage 4, she beat breast cancer but a different cancer popped up in her lungs and at 49 she unfortunately passed away. So as her only child I have been on top of my 3D mammograms and I took the genetic testing and I didn’t carry her gene my cancer was hormonal based and would of never been caught in time if it weren’t for my 3D mammograms. So I decided to have a lumpectomy since it was a 2mm mass and it was contained in one spot, followed by 20 rounds of radiation therapy. My scans have been good so far 🤞 Thank God 🙌 Any cancer is a scary thing to navigate with that being said during my treatments my doctors were helpful and told me everything I needed to do to rid my cancer, but afterwards I felt like I was left in the dark( the after cancer chapter) I read and had to educate myself I found out quickly that I had to advocate for myself. The fear of the cancer reoccurring never goes away it stays in the back of my mind everyday. When I have to see my oncologist or have a scan I develop what I call Scanxity! I tried to take the AI preventative medication but I couldn’t tolerate the side effects so I’m choosing to try to live a healthier lifestyle and just do my follow ups. My primary doctor told me “ if you don’t take the preventative medicine, you will die in 5 years” it was a gut punch and I was living in fear until I talked about this with my oncologist who said “ although he recommends that I take the preventative medication, I will not die from breast cancer because it was removed, I had radiation and also a full hysterectomy as another preventative” so that helped clear my anxiety, but I think as a cancer survivor you will always have that fear of it coming back. My advice to you is listen to your body, the Drs do not always know what is best for you and advocate for yourself. I don’t know if you are a religious person or not but I pray and I give thanks all the time that it doesn’t come back and that I caught it in time and I’m still alive! 🙌 I hope that you can find peace and I pray that your cancer never returns in Jesus name Amen. I’m not sure what stage you are/were but technology has come along so far that I believe that if our cancer did come back that we would have a fighting chance to live and that brings me peace too😊 God Bless you

Thank you Amber N ..sorry to hear your mom pass ...i had am mix cancer 75%mucinous 25%invasive..stage 1A grade 2..just had my left breast removed on Dec 31,2025.16 rounds of radiation it was the grace of God that got me through that..after the surgery the the surgeon said ibwas cancer free ..the onecologist didn't say through same he said if i don't take tamoxifen for 10 yrs my cancer will come back stage 4 they have no cure for it..i heard so much how tamoxifen change your life after taking it..so im taking the pill..for about 3 months now..what pill are you on how did it make u fell?

And yes I can't shake the thought of me having breast and it returning somewhere in my body. I know how im going to leave this world cancer 😢..i don't know if im having side effects from tamoxifen but i concentrate, my balance is off. I'm Swaing I have very bad anxiety now panic attacks..i can not get my hair done not even pamper myself. Go in stores...my life is bad and no one can tell me anything. My doctor oncologist and er dont keep i'm brushing it off like I'm crazy.please keep me in your prayers.

This is my THIRD occurence. I start radiation t'moro(2nd time) and still not sure I made the right decision this time.

Ask your oncologist if these are the effects you have should you consider a different med. I am postmenopausal so doc is putting me on Exemestane, I start that after radiation is done. I took Letrozol before for about 5years, after Ca#2, which was st1 invasive.

You are not crazy but sounds like you are having potentially serious side effects that need to be addressed My opinion. Prayer is BEST med, it gives you peace.

There is a 30% chance it will come back. Mine came back after 20 years

Helga I am sorry to hear that your cancer came back my prayers are with you. May I ask what stage and kind of breast cancer you had/have? You don’t have to answer I am just curious on the 30% chance? I’m speaking on my own behalf and believe that everyone has their own journey and diagnosis and according to my own research on my own breast cancer my percentage was 6% chance of recurrence so saying 30% chance could and does scare people such as myself. This community page is for lifting each other up and encouraging others and your post kinda made my anxiety go up and I’m sorry if I offended you or made you feel some type of way but throwing out percentages without knowing others diagnosis is not up lifting it’s upsetting. Thank you and Prayers sent your way 🙏

I was diagnosed with 1b triple positive breast cancer and have 2 more herceptin infusions and now I am stage 4 with liver Mets in one year.. hummm.. never would have thought that would happen so fast with treatment at 1b.. so you never know I guess.. luckily I am 80 years old and have lived a great life..

The stat came from social media posts… but here is where the numbers are… https://www.bcrf.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-recurrence/ 20 years ago I was stage 2B, I had only the sentinel node, and no other nodes. I was 18% ER positive and negative for everything else. I did 8 rounds of chemo and a radical mastectomy. And eventually reconstruction.. and 20 years later.. Innumberable tumors in my bones from my skull to my hips.. possible liver involvement from the last scan…. I have 13 rib fractures right now. I am about to start a clinical trial, I have a weird (very rare) mutation called KRAS… I am going to Memorial Sloan Kettering. I think the BIG cancer hospitals are just better. I hope you are doing good today :-)

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

About Breast Cancer Recurrence | Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Discover what breast cancer recurrence is, what breast cancer recurrence rates are, and how BCRF is supporting research into recurrence.