Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in women across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020 alone, more than 6.85 lakh people died due to breast cancer. While the recovery rate is about 66%, the real danger lies in the cancer returning after treatment.
Tahira Kashyap’s Second Battle with Cancer
Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife, Tahira Kashyap, recently shared on Instagram that she is facing breast cancer again, 7 years after first being diagnosed in 2018. She had fully recovered back then, but now it has come back.
This raises a serious question – can breast cancer come back after years of treatment and recovery?
Why Does Breast Cancer Return?
Doctors say that even after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, tiny cancer cells may remain hidden in the body. These cells are so small that they can’t be seen even in tests. They can stay silent for years and reactivate later, causing cancer to return. This is called cancer recurrence.
Types of Breast Cancer Recurrence:
- Local Recurrence – Cancer comes back in the same area where it was found the first time.
- Regional Recurrence – Cancer returns in nearby lymph nodes or tissues.
- Distant Recurrence – Cancer spreads to other organs like lungs, liver, bones, or brain. This is also called metastasis.
When Is Recurrence Risk Highest?
- The risk of breast cancer coming back is highest within 2 to 5 years after treatment.
- In some cases, it may even return after 10 years or more.
Common Causes of Recurrence:
- Cancer stage or grade was high during the first diagnosis
- Genetic mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Incomplete treatment or skipped therapy
- Lifestyle habits – smoking, alcohol, obesity
- Poor immunity for a long time
- Hormone-receptor status
How to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence:
- Complete the full treatment – Even if there are side effects, don’t stop midway.
- Regular checkups – Go for follow-ups once or twice a year.
- Healthy habits – Eat well, exercise, manage stress.
- Watch for warning signs – New lump, breast pain, fatigue, sudden weight loss.
