How common is breast cancer recurrence after surgery?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 64-year-old female who has had breast cancer and rectal cancer. I completed the treatment for breast cancer. I underwent neoadjuvant CTRT and anterior resection with a covering ileostomy for cancer of the rectum. I completed adjuvant chemotherapy, and an ileostomy closure was done.

My CT thorax shows multiple enlarged left retropectoral nodes.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As per your reports, your mammography is normal (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

CT (computed tomography) shows retroperitoneal lymph nodes and multiple hypodense lesions. The chances of breast cancer recurring after 10 years are usually unlikely.

What can you tell about your baseline stage of breast cancer and rectum cancer?

As serum CEA levels are normal, there is a discordant radiological and serological picture. I would like to view CT films and see if previous CT films are available. The CT is definitely abnormal. Liver lesions can be simple cysts, too. If that is the case, I would not give much importance to retroperitoneal nodes and just advise you to be in close follow-up.

May repeat CEA and CT after three months. There are no definite guidelines for this type of situation. And the plan of action depends on experience and clinical judgment regarding how likely the recurrence is. If symptomatic, I would advise you to follow up.

Most likely, the picture looks like a recurrence of rectal cancer. But as treatment was completed more than three years ago, recurrence this late is not common, and chances of a different diagnosis like TB (tuberculosis) or an infectious cause can also be there.

I hope this information will help you.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.