One in every five breast cancer patients will suffer a recurrence of the disease, new research reveals.
The study by Macmillan Cancer Support found that 22.6% of patients who survive the disease once will have to face it again.
The charity said it is the first time data on the recurrence of breast cancer has been made available to the public.
Researchers found that more than half of those diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time (51%) lived disease-free for more than three years before its recurrence.
On average, patients survived at least a year after their second diagnosis. Only one in 20 lived more than 10 years.
The research will be presented at the National Cancer Intelligence Network conference in Birmingham this week.
Jane Mahler, chief medical officer for Macmillan Cancer Support, said women battling breast cancer for the second time may need additional support that is not always available to them.
She said: ”Not only do these women have to deal with the shock of their breast cancer returning, but also far too many are given very little practical or emotional support, the assumption being they know what to expect from the first time they were treated.
”It is therefore essential that health professionals identity breast cancer recurrence early and take heed of this emerging evidence.”
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