Hi Lisaspeke,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

First of all, let me stress that I am not a doctor.

In answer to your question, yes, any cancer can return and some are more likely to do so than others. However, there is no way to predict which will and which won't. I had pure mucosal breast cancer, stage 1, with no lymph node involvement. This is one of the less aggressive types, but I had 2 diagnoses of breast cancer and 1 of pre-cancer, all within a year of one another. I had a lumpectomy first time around and a double mastectomy after that.

It is scary when you stop having regular checks. You just need to be alert to any changes yourself and return for further investigation, if you notice anything. Most surgeons would offer the same advice re lumpectomy versus mastectomy. I am now 15 years down the line and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life. Like you, I would prefer to have some regular screening available for life, but funding priorities seem to be in other areas of cancer at present. 

One reassuring thing to hold on to is that you have had no evidence of spread and I sincerely hope that this continues to be the case.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

I can appreciate your concern about recurrence of your cancer. Your cancer specialist would have based your follow up care plan on the best evidence for what would be useful to do.

It can be difficult moving forward after having cancer treatment. You can try contacting the hospital breast care nurse specialist with your worry.

You might find it helpful to join the Breast Cancer Now online forum where others share their experience and thoughts on life after treatment.

They also provide a moving forward course, in person and online for women after their treatment. You might find this helpful and supportive.

Kind regards,

Vanda