Treatment if your breast cancer comes back

About recurrent or relapsed breast cancer

Your breast cancer can come back in:

• the same breast

• areas close to the breast such as the ​lymph nodes​ and chest wall 

Or it can spread to other parts of the body. This is secondary or advanced breast cancer. The most common places for secondary breast cancer to spread to is the bones, liver, lungs or brain.

We have more information about secondary breast cancer

Breast cancer that has come back in the same breast

If breast cancer comes back in the same area, it is called a local recurrence. The cancer might be picked up at one of your follow up scans or appointments. Or you might notice that your breast or scar looks or feels different.

Breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast area

A locally advanced recurrence means that the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast to areas near or around the breast. But has not spread to other distant parts of the body.

A locally advanced cancer might come back in one or more of the following:

• the chest wall

• lymph nodes under the breastbone or between the ribs

• the nodes above the collarbone (supra clavicular nodes)

• lymph nodes around the neck

Symptoms

Symptoms of recurrent breast cancer include:

• a lump called a nodule in the breast or scar

• change in shape or size of the breast 

• swelling in the lymph nodes above and below the collarbone, the neck, and around the breastbone

• changes in the shape or position of the nipple

• redness or a skin rash around the breast 

Let your doctor know as soon as possible if you notice any changes.

Tests to check if the cancer has come back

You have tests to check if the cancer has come back. These include:

• a mammogram

• an ultrasound scan

• having a sample of tissue taken (biopsy) 

Your doctor may suggest you have other tests such as a CT scan to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Find out more about tests for breast cancer

Treatment

The treatment you have for recurrent breast cancer depends on the treatment you had before. It also depends on where the cancer has come back. 

Treatment you might have include:

• surgery

• radiotherapy

• chemotherapy

• hormone therapy

• immunotherapy or targeted cancer drugs

• bone strengthening drugs

You might have one or more of these treatments. Your doctor or specialist nurse will talk you through your treatment plan.

Find out more about these treatments

Getting support and information

It can be very difficult to cope with the news that your cancer has come back. At first, you are likely to feel shocked, upset, frightened and confused. Or you may feel that things are out of your control.

It is very important to get the right information about your type of cancer and how it is best treated. You might need time to deal with the information your team gives you.

People who are well informed about their illness and treatment are more able to make decisions and cope with what happens. Your doctor or breast care nurse can give you information.

It can help to talk to family and friends about how you feel.

You can also contact one of the breast cancer organisations. They have free factsheets and booklets they can send to you. They might also be able to put you in touch with a support group.

Find breast cancer organisations and other resources