Questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk are an important part of understanding your prognosis after your surgery and treatment program are concluded. While most women and men are successfully treated for breast cancer, it's a fact of life that up to 10% of breast cancer patients will have a recurrence of breast cancer in their lifetimes.

Here are some questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk that you can discuss with your medical doctor to learn more about your particular situation.

Questions about about your health history:

Does my ethnic or racial ancestry influence breast cancer recurrence?

Do I have genetic tendencies (genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, and others) that put me at greater risk for more breast cancer?

If I have relatives (especially close relatives like my mother and sister) with breast cancer, does that change my prognosis?

Would my mother's exposure to chemicals like DES change my prognosis?

How does my age change my risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Does my reproductive and menstrual history affect my prognosis?

Questions about your particular cancer:

How does the tumor size and grade affect my breast cancer recurrence rate prognosis?

If my breast cancer is only in one breast, will the other breast get cancer in the future?

What is the hormone receptor status of the cancer and how does that change my prognosis?

What is the tumor HER2/neu (human epidural growth factor receptor-2, a gene that controls cell growth) status, and how does that affect my risk of breast cancer recurrence?

How far is the lymph node involvement?

Is there any metastasis to other areas of my body?

Questions about what you can do to help yourself:

What healthy habits should I practice to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Remember, there is always something you can do to help make your life and health better. Here are some health habits you should know.

Early detection is your greatest tool. Always observe your body, do monthly self-examinations, see your doctor for examinations, and choose recommended mammograms for greatest protection.

Research on healthy habits and breast cancer shows that restricting alcohol to one drink a day and weight control are healthy habits that may reduce breast cancer risk.

And get involved with your body and your future by asking these questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk.