New Study Found that Risk of Breast Cancer Relapse Can Linger
TUESDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) — The risk of relapse can linger for some breast cancer survivors even after completing five years of what doctors call systemic therapy, a new study found.
But, as gloomy as that news sounds, there is a relative bright spot: the risk may not be as dire as many women fear.
Brewster’s team evaluated 2,838 breast cancer patients whose disease ranged from stage I to III. All had been treated with some form of adjuvant systemic therapy between 1985 and 2001 and had remained disease-free for five years, which is traditionally considered a landmark in cancer survival.
The women had a variety of treatments — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy. Endocrine therapy involves tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and a combination of the drugs and is usually given for five years.