3 things you need to know about early breast cancer

(NC) Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women. Most people are diagnosed with early breast cancer in its earlier stages, with the goal of treatment being to “cure” the cancer and prevent it from recurring.

Knowledge is power—here are a few key things every woman should know:

1. Breast cancer isn’t a single disease. There are several types of breast cancer, classified by where they’re located, how invasive they are and the different hormones and proteins in the body they may interact with. 

For instance, the most common type of breast cancer is called “hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative” (HR+/HER2-). That means it has receptors for estrogen and progesterone, the main female sex hormones, but doesn’t use HER2, a growth protein. Treatments for this type of cancer usually focus on hormones.

2. Some types of breast cancer have a high five-year survival rate. Other common types of breast cancer, like HR+/HER2-, can return as metastatic disease, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it becomes much more difficult to treat, and is often considered incurable. 

3. Cancer can come back. It’s common to think the end of chemotherapy or radiation means the cancer journey is over. But the risk of the disease returning can last for many years—even decades—and if recurrence happens, it’s often metastatic and incurable.

This risk is especially high for HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Despite available treatments, many people diagnosed with this common type of breast cancer will live with the possibility of their disease returning—making it important to stick to a treatment plan that manages this risk, including medications.

The good news? New treatment options are available to help reduce the risk of this recurrence, particularly for those diagnosed with stage 2 or 3, and regardless of nodal or menopausal status.

A follow-up plan tailored to your risk is an important part of your long-term wellness. If you’ve completed treatment for early breast cancer, talk to your doctor to learn what treatment options may be right for you.