Breast cancer recurrence low after 5 years

WASHINGTON - Women who survive breast cancer for five years after treatment have a relatively low risk of the disease recurring, according to a US study published yesterday.

Even women with serious stage III breast cancer have only a 13 percent risk of the cancer returning if they survived the first five years cancer free, researchers said, commenting on a study that generally did not include some newer treatments such as Herceptin and the aromatase inhibitors.

The researchers tracked breast cancer recurrence in 2,838 US women who had been cancer free for five years after initial surgery and radiation to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both.

In those treated for stage I breast cancer - the tumor was small and had not spread - breast cancer came back after five years in just 7 percent. The cancer returned in 11 percent of women treated for stage II disease; the tumor may have been larger or spread to underarm lymph nodes.