Early-Stage Breast Cancer: What to Know About Remission and Recurrence

When talking about the treatment of early-stage breast cancer, doctors tend to avoid saying that the cancer has been “cured.” A “cure” implies a guarantee that the cancer won’t come back (recur). Instead, doctors will usually say that cancer is in remission instead.

Unfortunately, breast cancer can come back (recur) after treatment. In this video, learn what remission and recurrence mean, and how doctors monitor for breast cancer recurrence, according to Stephanie Bernik, MD, Breast Oncologic Surgeon at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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