Late onset of distant metastases from breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in females and characterized by long duration and heterogeneity among patients. Even in early stage breast cancer, probability of local recurrence and metastasis in long period should be considered. A 65 year old female patient presented with growing mass in left side of neck, loss of appetite and weight loss. Past medical history revealed a right breast cancer treated by right modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF) 15 years ago. This patient's presentation was late-onset of lymph node, pleura and lung metastases. Metastases 15 years after diagnosis of the primary tumor is uncommon. Late recurrence is thought to be due to cancer cells being in a 'dormant' state.

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