Long-term prognosis of patients with axillary recurrence after axillary dissection for invasive breast cancer

Aim To investigate the long-term prognosis of patients with axillary recurrence after axillary dissection for invasive breast cancer and describe the long-term survivors. Methods Between 1984 and 1994, 4669 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent axillary dissection in eight community hospitals in the south–eastern part of The Netherlands. Using follow-up data of the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, 59 patients with axillary recurrence were identified. Results The median interval between treatment of the primary tumour and diagnosis of axillary recurrence was 2.6 years (range 0.3–10.7). The median length of follow-up after diagnosis of axillary recurrence was 11.1 years (5.7–15.6). Distant metastases occurred in 38 of the 59 patients. The 5- and 10-year distant recurrence-free survival rates were 39% (95% CI: 25–52%) and 29% (95% CI: 16–42%). Conclusions Axillary recurrence following axillary dissection is associated with a high rate of subsequent distant metastasis and poor overall prognosis but is not always a fatal event. Our results show that it is possible to cure about one-third of the patients.