An overview of the management of recurrent breast cancer

Breast cancer recurrence is a potential problem for anyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer. Recurrent breast cancer can manifest both locally and systemically and can cause a variety of symptoms. After a diagnosis is established, treatment and symptom management may include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and hormone therapy. The confirmation of a recurrent diagnosis may have far-reaching psychological and social implications for the patient. The care of each patient with metastatic disease must be tailored to that individual's needs and will involve the varied skills of the multidisciplinary team. The type of care that is given should be negotiated with each patient, and includes a combination of active treatment and symptom management, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that the patient's quality of life is maintained at an optimum level for as long as possible.