Going through breast cancer treatment is not easy at all, but it gives a new meaning to life. In the sense of new care as well. Concerns with the disease do not cease to exist and it is extremely important not to stop going to medical appointments and periodical exams.
Two words represent the two main fears for those who have already been through breast cancer. Here they are:
RELAPSE
Relapse can be found, for example, in the same breast operated on, but it can also appear in other places of the body, in organs such as the lungs, liver, bones, etc. It is important to emphasize that relapse may happen depending on the patient’s initial situation. What type of cancer it was, if the first tumor was big, if there was easy and quick access to the treatment…
Nowadays, after concluding the treatment, the relapse risk is not zero, but it is becoming less frequent. Fortunately!
METASTASIS
It´s when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Metastasis may occur when cancer cells travel through the blood stream or lymphatic vessels to other areas of the body. To carry out the treatment of this type of cancer, in general, multiple factors are taken in consideration, such as the extent of metastases and the different locations.
Fortunately, 2: there are increasingly more treatments that increase the patients’ overall survival, mainly with a good quality of life!
And what about the care for those who have already been through the treatment?
Basically, the same care for those who go through cancer or who want to decrease the chances of it coming back, with emphasis on a healthy diet and the practice of physical activity. It is worth keeping in mind that smoking is not a good idea and alcoholic beverages must be avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions
(that were not answered above)
After the treatment is concluded, what are the chances of the breast cancer coming back?
Is depends on the patient’s initial situation. If the tumor was big, whether it had compromised lymph nodes, the molecular type (luminal, triple negative and HER2-positive), if there was a quick and easy access to modern treatments. There are many variables. The risk is not zero, even though relapse is becoming less frequent. ?
What should I do if the breast cancer comes back?
You need to seek specialized help immediately, because even in the case of a relapse, there are many therapeutic options available. And yes, even metastatic patients can control the disease adequately for a long time, with different treatments available nowadays. ?
If the breast cancer comes back, does it mean I will die faster?
No. Most of the times the disease can be treated with good control indexes and good quality, many times and during many years. ?
