Local recurrence is a return of breast cancer to the original site. It’s treated in much the same way as the first breast cancer. A local recurrence is usually found on a mammogram, during a physical exam by a health care provider or when you notice a change in or around the breast or underarm.

If lumpectomy was used as the first treatment, a local recurrence is usually treated with mastectomy. Radiation therapy may be given if it wasn’t part of the initial treatment. Treatment may also include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, HER2-targeted therapy and/or other drug therapies.

Even though the entire breast is removed in a mastectomy, breast cancer can still return to the chest area. If you notice any changes around the mastectomy scar, tell your health care provider.

Local recurrence after a mastectomy is usually treated with surgery and radiation therapy if radiation therapy wasn’t part of the initial treatment.

Treatment may also include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, HER2-targeted therapy and/or other drug therapies.