Breast cancer can come back, or recur, long after treatment. It may be in the same breast (local), in the lymph nodes near the original cancer (regional), or in a part of your body that’s farther away (metastatic or distant).
Cancer is most likely to come back in the first 2 years after treatment. After that period, the risk goes down over time.
Your doctor will talk with you about what to watch for. Local symptoms include:
- A new lump in your breast
- Changes in your breast, nipple, or skin
- Lumps on the skin of your chest
- Thickening on or near the scar from surgery to remove a breast (mastectomy)
Mastectomy and surgery to replace a breast (reconstruction) may lead to a buildup of scar tissue or fat cells. These lumps aren’t cancer. But it’s important to let your doctor know about them and watch for changes.
Symptoms of regional recurrence include:
- A lump or swelling under your arm, above your collarbone, or on your chest
- Swelling in your arm
- Pain or numbness in your arm or shoulder
- Constant pain in your chest
- Trouble swallowing
Symptoms of metastatic recurrence depend on what body part is affected. The most common places are your bones, lungs, brain, and liver. You may have:
- Bone pain
- Dry cough
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Severe headaches
- Trouble seeing
- Seizures
- Balance problems
- Confusion
Know more about what to expect when breast cancer comes back.