With early breast cancer, every
treatment decision counts, especially when it comes to reducing the risk of cancer from coming back.
If you've finished active treatment, it's important to talk with your doctor about your individual risk and whether ongoing care options that may help lower the chance of cancer coming back, are right for you.
Learning about high-risk characteristics and available treatment options can help you have a more informed, confident conversation with your doctor and bring renewed hope for what’s ahead.
*Active therapy includes treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. The information comes from data collected from a set of medical records. This data can show patterns, but cannot determine cause and effect. Therefore, no definitive conclusions should be drawn based on this information.
Understanding
risk factors
Early breast cancer affects everyone differently. For some people, certain features of your cancer may increase the chance of it coming back, even after active treatment. Understanding your own risk can be an important first step toward helping to lower the chance of cancer returning.
Lymph node involvement
What it means: Your lymph nodes are part of your immune system. If cancer cells are found there, it can mean the cancer has started to spread.
Why it matters: The more lymph nodes affected, could mean the higher your chance of the cancer coming back.*
*This information comes from data collected from a set of medical records. This data can show patterns, but cannot determine cause and effect. Therefore, no definitive conclusions should be drawn based on this information.
Know the risk
Having just 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes may seem like it’s “lower risk,” but here’s what can sometimes be missed:
Nodal involvement*
Having fewer than 4 positive lymph nodes may not mean lower risk
Women with 1 to 3 positive nodes can face nearly the same chance of cancer coming back as those with 4 or more
Tumor characteristics*
The following characteristics may be linked to a higher risk:
- Tumor size ≥5 cm
- Grade 3 or higher tumors
*This information comes from data collected from a set of medical records. This data can show patterns, but cannot determine cause and effect. Therefore, no definitive conclusions should be drawn based on this information.
Awareness.
Action. Hope.
Being informed can help support stronger conversations about care. At your next appointment, consider asking the doctor:
Does my diagnosis put me at a higher risk of my cancer returning?
Are there tests that can help better predict if my breast cancer might come back? If so, which ones do you recommend?
Are there treatments available that can reduce the risk of cancer coming back?
For more information and questions to ask your doctor, download this discussion guide to bring to your next appointment.
Download discussion guide
Focused on what's ahead
The first two years after active therapy are when the risk of cancer coming back is highest. That’s why it’s so important to have open, informed conversations with your doctor. Working with your healthcare team now can help create a plan to lower your risk of cancer coming back.
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