Fear of Recurrence

Don't be ashamed that you haven't "moved on," says this metastatic breast cancer patient.

BY Martha Carlson

PUBLISHED January 08, 2018

Martha lives in Illinois and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2015. She has a husband and three children, ranging in age from 12 to 18, a dog and a lizard.

I admit to wondering how I would behave if I'd been diagnosed with an earlier stage of breast cancer rather than de novo (from the start) stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer. Would I have been thrilled to "ring the bell" and move on without a thought about any cancer recurrence? Would any ache or pain have prompted concerns about aging, rather than cancer progression? I don't know. That's the bare truth. But as someone with metastatic breast cancer, I can understand why many women and men diagnosed with earlier stages of the disease continue to fear cancer, worry about the effects of their past treatments and feel as though they are waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop.

I can understand because it is a perfectly reasonable fear. Estimates for metastatic recurrence in "cured" breast cancer range between 20 and 30 percent, and 75 percent of patients with metastatic breast cancer had been diagnosed and treated for earlier stage disease. So, it is a disservice when friends, family and doctors talk about whether or not women, in particular, are overreacting to a breast cancer diagnosis – even if the patient has had a successful treatment result. Knowing the facts can help an early-stage survivor better understand how important it is to remain vigilant about the disease and to support herself if others disregard or seek to diminish her concerns.

Read More :