Cancer-Free Woman After Double Mastectomy Gets Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer Decades After Her First Cancer Diagnosis

Although there is no ‘cure for all’ way to eradicate cancer, treatments and medicine have made survival rates much higher. While more cancer treatments do help people go into remission, which is when the symptoms of a disease like cancer lessen or go away. However, the chances of cancer coming back are still present, which is a reality many cancer patients have to deal with. For one such survivor, this reality may be permanent. Carol Johnson-Cromer is a powerhouse of energy, resilience, and a deep commitment to helping others. She's a three-time breast cancer survivor, first diagnosed in 2000 at age 38, and again in 2019 and 2023. Facing Cancer Head-On Carol's first breast cancer diagnosis came less than a month after a routine check-up when she found a lump. Her doctor quickly arranged a biopsy, which confirmed that it was breast cancer. Carol underwent lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and took Tamoxifen. Nearly 20 years later, she found another lump in the same breast. After almost two decades in remission, and with a strong desire to live fully for her family and community, she chose to have a double mastectomy. Carol felt an urgent need to move forward, and her determination helped quiet her fears during this time. But her fight wasn't over. Four years later, she found another lump, this time on the right side of her neck, and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Carol has since embraced a "new normal," which includes ongoing, lifelong treatment for cancer. What is Metastatic Breast Cancer? According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) means the breast cancer has spread from where it started in the breast to other parts of your body. It's also called Stage 4, advanced, or distant breast cancer. Cancer cells can spread in a couple of ways: sometimes, the cancer comes back in a different part of the body months or years after you were first treated (this is called a distant recurrence). Other times, the cancer has already spread to other areas by the time it's first found (this is called de novo metastatic breast cancer). The most common type of breast cancer, called invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), usually spreads to the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. Another type, called invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), often goes to organs like the uterus, ovaries, stomach, intestines, and sometimes the brain. Right now, there isn't a cure for metastatic breast cancer. However, more and more women are living longer with the disease. Doctors focus on managing it like a long-term illness through ongoing treatment and monitoring, with the main goal of keeping your quality of life as good as possible. Despite the immense challenges, Carol found strength within herself. “The challenge every time is maintaining a positive mindset, focusing on the body by exercising in the midst of exhaustion, and embracing one’s spirit by waking up every day ready to breathe life and light into every person, place, or thing,” she said. Why Some Cancers Come Back The Cancer Research UK explains that even after treatment, a few cancer cells might be left behind and start to grow again, forming a new tumor. Sometimes, cancer cells might have already spread to other parts of the body but were too small to be seen. These tiny, hidden groups of cells can then grow into new tumors later on. Even though surgeons try their very best to remove all cancer during an operation, it's possible that a tiny group of cancer cells gets left behind. Also, some cancer cells might have already broken off from the main tumor before surgery but were too small to be noticed. These are called micrometastases. If your doctor thinks there's a chance cancer cells were left or had spread, they might suggest more treatment after surgery, called adjuvant treatment. This extra treatment could be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted cancer drugs. When Cancer Becomes Resistant to Treatment Sometimes, cancer cells can become "resistant" to cancer drugs, meaning the drugs stop working. This happens because cancer cells can change or mutate over time. These changes can make them ignore the drugs that used to kill them. If this happens, doctors might try a different type of treatment. Sometimes, cancers can even become resistant to many drugs at once. Scientists have found that some of these changes can make cancer cells pump the drugs out, keeping them from working. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to overcome this resistance to make treatments more effective. Many cancers can be cured today. However, some cancers can return many years later, which is why doctors might be careful about using the word "cure." Instead, they often say your cancer is in remission. This means there's no sign of cancer in your body. If any cancer cells are left, they are either too few to find, too few to cause problems, or are simply not active and not growing. Because doctors can't be 100% sure all cancer cells are gone, they might suggest long-term treatment, like hormone therapy or a targeted drug, to try and stop the cancer from coming back. Living with Uncertainty It can be very tough to live with the thought that your cancer might come back. Even if doctors say there's a very high chance your cancer is gone for good, it's natural to feel worried that they can't be absolutely certain. Some people find it hard to stop thinking about it or feel afraid to plan for the future. While this feeling is common, for most people, the risk of cancer returning goes down over time. Most cancers that do come back usually do so within the first 2 years after treatment. After 5 years, the chance is even lower. For some cancers, after 10 years, your doctor might finally say you're cured. If you are finding it difficult to cope with, reach out for help and look into support groups and mental health support sources.

Cancer-Free Woman After Double Mastectomy Gets Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer Decades After Her First Cancer Diagnosis

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