BCO Podcast: Characteristics of Early-Stage BC

Moderators

Characteristics of Early-Stage Breast Cancer That Make It More Likely to Come Back

October 25, 2019

Dr. Chirag Shah is a radiation oncologist and director of clinical research for the department of radiation oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Shah received his bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University and his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He completed his internship and residency at William Beaumont Hospital from 2007 to 2012 and joined the Cleveland Clinic Staff in 2015. Dr. Shah serves as a reviewer for various medical journals and is a member of various medical societies. His primary research interests are breast cancer, sarcoma, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and innovative radiation treatment schedules as well as lymphedema. He has participated in numerous clinical trials.

In this podcast, Dr. Shah talks about specific characteristics of early-stage breast cancer that make the cancer more likely to come back, which doctors call recurrence, as well as what can be done to lower that risk.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shah discuss:

• the difference between local/regional recurrence and metastatic/distant recurrence
• the characteristics of early-stage breast cancer that make the risk of recurrence higher

Running time: 15:28

Edited to make changes consistent with main site edits and add:

Editor's note: Please know that Dr. Shah does point out that more research is needed on how diet, alcohol use, and smoking affect recurrence risk because current data are inconsistent. His ultimate point is that a survivorship care plan, which includes monitoring, is the most important tool we have beyond following your treatment plan to reduce the risk of recurrence. A survivorship care plan includes:
• monitoring for and managing long-term physical and emotional side effects
• guidance about diet, exercise, and health-promoting activities
• resources to help with financial and insurance issues
• surveillance

Listen now or read the transcript.

MountainMia

This was cross-posted in multiple forums to increase the views. In the Stage II forum, there were a number of comments already, mostly negative. The interview didn't shed new light on anything. Despite being titled "How to Lower Risk..." there is apparently no way to lower risk, as the only thing discussed is complying with your AI or hormonal therapies treatment regimens. Oh, and being older. Being older apparently lowers risk, so make sure to take steps to be older. And according to the interviewer and the doctor, monitoring lowers risk of recurrence, which is blatantly false.

So the description about the podcast as provided by the mods really doesn't hold up to scrutiny, and the podcast is not helpful, either. Here is a link to the Stage II posting, if you'd like to see the comments already posted there.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/145/topics/874050?page=1#post_5473213

Beesie

These days I'm really feeling old. Does that count?

Sigh.

Moderators

Thank you all for your helpful feedback. We have made edits to the Podcast page to reflect your concerns and have added the following:

Editor's note: Please know that Dr. Shah does point out that more research is needed on how diet, alcohol use, and smoking affect recurrence risk because current data are inconsistent. His ultimate point is that a survivorship care plan, which includes monitoring, is the most important tool we have beyond following your treatment plan to reduce the risk of recurrence. A survivorship care plan includes:
• monitoring for and managing long-term physical and emotional side effects
• guidance about diet, exercise, and health-promoting activities
• resources to help with financial and insurance issues
• surveillance