Breast Cancer Dialogues: Living Beyond the Fear, Coping with the Possibility of Breast Cancer Recurrence

As Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, head of Breast Medical Oncology at Valley Health System, explains, “One of the things that cancer survivors and thrivers struggle with is the fear that the cancer may recur or progress.”

RELATED: Helping to Prevent a Breast Cancer Recurrence

That ever-present worry can quietly influence everyday decisions, relationships, and even the ability to feel joy. Dr. Teplinsky gently posed a powerful question to the panelists: “How do you navigate that while still living, finding the community, and finding joy?”

For Karen Xaverius, diagnosed at age 39, the answer lies in taking small, intentional steps.

“I try to live by the motto that small steps are still steps. I actually have it tattooed on my chest — it’s a value of mine. For me, that slows down the nagging fear of recurrence. Now, it’s just about finding the joy in the little things.” She also chose to have her ovaries removed post-treatment to help ease some of her anxiety, calling it an “aggressive route” that brought peace of mind.

Sometimes, the fear of recurrence becomes reality.

“I’m in my sixth year of breast cancer survivorship, but knowing that there could be a recurrence, it can happen. It did happen to me,” panelist Deb Song, who was diagnosed at age 40, says.

Even as new therapies continue to evolve — including aromatase inhibitors and targeted treatments — Dr. Teplinsky stresses the importance of treating the whole person, which includes a patient’s mental health.

“It’s balancing mind-body connection—you can’t have one without the other,” Dr. Teplinsky says, underscoring the need to support survivors’ emotional well-being alongside medical care.

That balance doesn’t always come easily. Kelsie Barnhart, who was diagnosed when she was only 27, recalls her fear after finishing radiation: “I remember meeting with the oncology therapist, telling her how terrified I was to start planning again. Vacations, birthdays — anything. I was so afraid that making plans might jinx them, or that I wouldn’t be well enough to enjoy them. She told me, ‘You can’t live your life that way.’”

For Ebonie Michelle, who was diagnosed at 42 and has a family history of breast cancer, the thought of ending treatment brings mixed emotions.

“I’m coming up on my five-year mark. I wonder if stopping treatment means it could come back. They got all the cancer out the first time, but I definitely don’t want to go through that again,” Ebonie said.

With time, some survivors find that the fear begins to loosen its grip.

“The further I get from diagnosis and treatment, the more it is a year of celebration,” shares Roxanne (Carter) Parikh, who was diagnosed at age 41.

Her focus has shifted from merely surviving to embracing long-term milestones — five years, ten years, twenty.

Even during survivorship, patients remain closely monitored by their care teams — not just for signs of recurrence, but to address any lingering effects of treatment. Survivors are encouraged to nurture their health through regular exercise, a healthy diet, and ongoing checkups. These practices not only support overall wellness but help ensure that, should anything reappear, it’s caught early.

Living beyond breast cancer means learning to carry the possibility of recurrence without letting it define life. It’s a journey of small steps, resilience, and rediscovered joy.

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