Dr. Mamounas on Recurrence Rates in Breast Cancer

Eleftherios (Terry) P. Mamounas, MD, MPH, FACS, medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Program at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, discusses common recurrence rates in breast cancer.

When it comes to early stage estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancer, over time, the risk of recurrence is generally stable, says Mamounas. Conversely, with triple-negative breast cancer, the risk of reoccurrence is high in the first 2 to 3 years but, after 5 plus years, it can drop to nearly 0%. 

However, for patients with ER-positive breast cancer, several studies demonstrated that the rate of risk of recurrence and death are typically the highest after the first 5 years, Mamounas adds. 

As shown in larger studies, the rate of distant recurrence is stable from year 5 to 20; however, this depends, to some extent, on the original tumor presentation. Regardless, this is a remarkable rate, Mamounas concludes.