Recurrence query

Ask our Nurses your questions
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Hi. After my 5 surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy, I was told I was cancer free. How do they know? I’m just curious as I was speaking to a friend in a different hospital trust who said she had an mri and ct after treatment, before they said there was no evidence of disease. I’m still on letrazole, ribociclib, ibandronic acid, vitamin D and calcium. Will these medicines stop it coming back or is there still a small chance? I’m more curious than worried. Just wondering if chemo is 100% successful and if nothing can survive it.

Thank you

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Hi blusatsuma,

If you’ve had cancer there is always a chance it can comeback. However the treatments you have had and are still having will reduce the risk of it coming back and for most of us it will never return.

I’ve had the same treatment as yourself (although I only had 2 surgeries) and I’ve completed 2 years of Abemaciclib. Since completing most of my treatments I am now trying to live in the present. I feel well today and I am appreciating feeling well. None of us know how our health will be in the future, even if we have not had cancer. I am trying to live a healthier lifestyle, eating unprocessed food, no alcohol and exercising but I now fully appreciate how fragile life is. This fact no longer scares me, in fact it allows me to enjoy each day.

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Hi there @bluesatsuma I wondered the same thing. I had, chemo, surgery, radiotherapy and now have Letrazole, Abemaciclib and Zoledronic Acid. At my 1 year follow up I asked about scans and was told that as I had clear margins from the surgery and a clear mammogram I am presumed to be cancer free, though they don’t use that term, and that the regular blood tests I have for the Abemaciclib would show if something was going awry :woman_shrugging:t2:

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Thank you both. That is reassuring. X

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Hi bluesatsuma,

Thanks for posting on our forum.

We hope to be able to respond to you soon.

In the meantime our helpline is open from 9am tomorrow.

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With best wishes.

Lisa

Ask Our Nurses service co-ordinator

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6

Hi bluesatsuma,

Thank you for posting.

Nearly everyone treated for breast cancer wonders about the risk of it coming back (recurrence). Treatment for primary breast cancer is given with curative intent, meaning the aim is to remove the cancer and prevent it from returning in the future. Being told you are cancer free means there is no sign of cancer. It’s not usual practice to have scans, such as an MRI or CT after treatment finishes, however this may vary based on someone’s individual situation.

For most people, breast cancer doesn’t come back and medications such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy are all given to reduce this risk as much as possible. However, as @shade says, there is always a chance of the cancer returning, and the risk of this happening will vary from person to person based on several different factors.

Your breast care nurse or treatment team would be able to talk you through your risk, based on your individual situation, if this would be helpful for you.

As @pat says, follow up for breast cancer is usually a mammogram, which can pick up any changes in the breast. However, it’s important to be breast aware between mammograms and let your breast care nurse or treatment team know about any concerns you have.

You may find our Moving Forward course, which is for people who have recently completed their main hospital based treatment for breast cancer, helpful. Our upcoming Speakers Live session ‘After Treatment, what now?’ may also be of interest. You can find details about this session and how to register in the link.

Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.

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Best wishes,

Cassie

Breast Care Nurse

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