HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Breast Cancer, Metastatic or Recurrent
Cause
The exact cause of breast cancer is not known. But after you have had breast cancer, it can come back (recur) or spread (metastasize) to other parts of your body.
After you have had breast cancer, you have a higher-than-average risk of having cancer again. If cancer does come back, it often shows up within 10 years after a first diagnosis.Reference 1
To learn more about the risk of breast cancer coming back or spreading, see Reference What Increases Your Risk.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference October 22, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology |
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