When do you become a survivor of breast cancer?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology reports that the designation “survivor” can be applied immediately upon diagnosis, a stage called acute survivorship in which active treatment is the focus. Extended survivorship describes people who’ve completed active treatment but are being monitored carefully for recurrence.
Can a breast cancer survivor have a second cancer?
Breast cancer survivors can be affected by a number of health problems, but often a major concern is facing cancer again. Cancer that comes back after treatment is called a recurrence. But some cancer survivors develop a new, unrelated cancer later. This is called a second cancer.
How long does it take for breast cancer to recur?
“The dominance of the ‘breast cancer survivor’ identity masks the reality that patients treated for early stage breast cancer can experience metastatic recurrence … [anywhere from] a few months [to] 20 years or more after initial diagnosis,” the report states.
How to take care of yourself after breast cancer treatment?
Follow up Care After Breast Cancer Treatment 1 Typical follow-up schedules. Doctor visits: At first, your follow-up doctor visits will probably be… 2 Ask your doctor for a survivorship care plan. 3 If the cancer comes back. If cancer does return, your treatment options will depend on…
When can you call yourself a breast cancer survivor?
Most people who are breast cancer survivors will fall into the first three categories in the table above, as oncologists will rarely use the word cured for people with solid tumors, even if a cancer was in the very early stages of the disease. Your doctor may say you are in remission or that you are NED (no evidence of disease).
How to plan for survivorship after breast cancer treatment?
Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include: A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment
What are the chances of surviving Stage 3 breast cancer?
Women who are diagnosed at stage 3 have a 72 percent likelihood of surviving for five or more years, and women who are diagnosed at stage 4 have a 22 percent likelihood. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age.
Who is a breast cancer survivor in the Air Force?
Douglas A. Nelson, MD, is double board-certified in medical oncology and hematology. He was a physician in the US Air Force and now practices at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is an associate professor. Today, the term breast cancer survivor is one that means different things to different people.