Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women. Most people are diagnosed in the early stages, when the goal of treatment is to cure the disease and prevent it from recurring.
Knowledge is power—here are a few key things every woman should know:
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 which hormones and proteins in the body they may interact with.
The most common type is called hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-). This means the cancer has receptors for estrogen and progesterone, the main female sex hormones, but does not use HER2, a growth protein. Treatments for this type usually focus on hormones.
Survival rates vary. Some types of breast cancer have a high five-year survival rate. But common types like HR+/HER2- can return as metastatic disease, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it becomes much harder to treat and is often considered incurable.
Cancer can come back. Many people assume the end of chemotherapy or radiation means the cancer journey is over. But the risk of recurrence can last for years—even decades—and when it returns, it is often metastatic and incurable.
This risk is especially high for HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Despite available treatments, many people diagnosed with this type live with the possibility of recurrence, making it important to follow a treatment plan that helps manage the risk, including medication.
The good news is that new treatment options are available to help reduce the risk of recurrence, particularly for those diagnosed at stage 2 or 3, and regardless of nodal or menopausal status.
A follow-up plan tailored to your risk is an important part of long-term wellness. If you’ve completed treatment for early breast cancer, talk to your doctor about which options may be right for you.
