Breast Cancer Symptoms And What You Need To Know

Signs Of Recurrence

Despite initially treating and successful overcoming breast cancer, in some instances, breast cancer can return. This is referred to as recurrence, and it occurs when a small number of cells evade initial treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. Signs of a recurrence in the same place as the initial breast cancer are incredibly similar as the first time it occurred and include a new breast lump, changes to the nipple, redness, and swelling, and skin thickening near the mastectomy scar or on the skin in general.

If recurrence comes back regionally, meaning cancer has returned to the lymph nodes or close to the original location. These signs might be slightly different and include lumps in the lymph nodes near the collarbone, chest or breast pain, pain or loss of sensation in the arm or shoulder, and swelling in the arm or on the same side as the original location of the breast cancer. If the patient has had a mastectomy or other surgical procedures related to their cancer, they might get lumps or bumps caused by scar tissue in the reconstructed breast.