Is there any possibility of developinf seconderies for a breast cancere survivor after 15 years of comfortable life?

[sanker]

One of our relative was operated for Brest cancer, in Feb 1996, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. After 15 years of comfortable life now she has developed lymph nodes and spots in the liver. FNAC of liver did not show any malignancy. But FNAC from lymph nodes so malignancy. Is it a frsh cancer or secondaries developed after such a long period. What is the loine of treatment suggested? What life span can be expected. She is suffering with constipation , fever and stomach pain. After using antibiotics stomach pain reduced considerably.

[zouzi]

Hi,
I am sorry to hear about your relative's situation.Unfortunately the risk of breast cancer recurrence is never zero and when this does happen, it can be effectively treated most of the time.The malignancy found in her lymph node could be a new cancer or recurrence.
The treatment for recurrent breast cancer depends on the kind of cancer your relative has developed.There are two types.The first reoccur close to or in the same place the first tumor was found within the breast.If she has been treated with lumpectomy and radiation for her first cancer, the breast tissue cannot be treated with radiation again. In that case, the standard of care for surgical treatment is mastectomy.
The second is when the cancer has spread to another organ within the body and special tests will be ordered by her doctor to find out where the cancer has metastasized.There are various treatment options to control the cancer and stop its progression, prolonging a patient’s life and improving quality of life.These treatment options will have to be discussed with her team of doctors who have all the information regarding her case.
Hoping that your relative will do well with her treatments.
Best wishes to you both.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Unfortunately, there is always a chance of BC recurrence, even after many, many years with no evidence of disease (NED).  

There is no way we can guess what type of recurrence your relative has developed (new primary, local-regional  or distant metastasis, etc.) from the limited information you have provided. After an evaluation is  completed, your relative's oncologist/ treatment team, who will have all of her medical hx and  test results, will be the best source of information about what type of malignant process is going on, what course of tx is indicated for her specific circumstances, and what the new developments mean in terms of prognosis.

Best wishes to her, and all of you who are concerned about her!