Why can breast cancer recur again?

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Being a former cancer patient who has managed to fight and undergo all treatment, certainly can not be separated from anxiety and fear. Those who have already passed cancer treatment, whatever the type of cancer is still at risk for recurrence, including in former breast cancer sufferers.

Cancer cells can grow back when former breast cancer sufferers have completed all of their treatment. This can occur in months or even years after treatment. Recurrent cancers can grow in the same place as previous cases of cancer (local recurrence) or even spread to other parts of the body (non-local recurrence). Recurrence of breast cancer cases is usually more difficult to deal with, but that does not mean it cannot be treated.

What causes breast cancer to recur?

Cancer cells can be considered 'smart' so that they can cause recurrence in several cancer events. Recurrence of breast cancer occurs when cancer cells that have to die and disappear due to treatment, instead hide in other parts of the breast or even to other body parts. Then, these cancer cells will be dormant or sleep and not active for several months or even years after treatment without causing any symptoms.

Then, suddenly there are things that activate these cells and make them wake up from their long sleep. Because it is active, the cancer cells that initially hide are again growing and developing, and this is what is called recurrence. However, until now experts also do not know for sure what causes breast cancer to recur and what can cause cancer cells to become active again.

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Risk factors that increase the chances of breast cancer recurrence

Although the exact cause is not known, there are several risk factors that can increase a person's chances of experiencing a recurrence, namely:

Has the size of a large breast cancer tumor. If a former breast cancer sufferer has a history of breast cancer with a large tumor size, then he is at risk for recurrence.

Younger agea. A woman who is under 35 years old when she is diagnosed with breast cancer, has a greater risk of recurrent breast cancer.

Experience inflammation. Inflammation of the breast area affected by cancer can increase the chances of recurrence

Cancer cells that grow have certain characteristics. If a former breast cancer sufferer has a recurrence, this could be due to cancer cells that grow on her breasts having the HER2 gene properties.

Not receiving enough radiation therapy because of a lumpectomy.Lumpectomy is an operation performed to remove the tumor and some surrounding tissue. Some cases, patients assume that if they have surgery to remove the tumor, they are free of cancer cells. But apparently not, they still have to do radiation therapy to remove the remnants of cancer cell tissue. If you don't do radiation therapy, it's not impossible for breast cancer to recur.

Cancer cells regarding lymph glands or lymph nodes. If the main cancer cell is in the lymph nodes, then he has the chance to experience breast cancer later on.

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How can someone know if breast cancer recurs?

The following are signs and symptoms of relapsing breast cancer, namely:

There is a lump or thickening around the breast or armpit, and this continues during the menstrual cycle
There are small lumps like bean seeds around the breast
Changes appear on the surface of the breast skin, such as shrinking, the nipples become inflamed, swollen, or even reddened
Exit fluid or blood from the nipple

If you experience this, then former breast cancer sufferers should immediately see a doctor. Performing routine checks after undergoing cancer treatment applying a healthy lifestyle, and maintaining health are some of the efforts that can prevent breast cancer from recurring.

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Why can breast cancer recur again?

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