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Keep Ahead has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited. This site is intended for UK early breast cancer patients and general public.

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Ringing the bell after completing treatment can and should feel like a victory. But for many, this milestone comes with a mixture of joy, relief, and uncertainty. Life after treatment is not always a straightforward return to normality.

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81%

of patients say fear of recurrence is a major concern during remission.2

Most early breast cancers do not come back after treatment.3 However, it is important to remember that there is a chance that the disease may come back months or years after your diagnosis and treatment, which can understandably create anxiety.

Learning about your risk factors and steps you can take to minimise the chances of breast cancer coming back can help you manage your risk and overwhelming emotions.

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Patients experiencing fear of recurrence in remission

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Changing physical and mental needs

Starting life after breast cancer can bring new physical and mental needs for many. You might experience ongoing fatigue, changes in your body due to surgery or treatments, or the lingering effects of chemotherapy or radiation.

Your mental health may also need care, as adjusting to life after cancer can bring feelings of vulnerability or anxiety. Regularly checking in with your healthcare team presents an opportunity for them to provide support for both your physical and emotional health. They can arrange physical rehabilitation, counselling, or offer advice about managing side effects.

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Overcoming the fear of recurrence

For many people in remission, the fear of cancer returning can be constant. Remember, it’s normal to feel anxious about recurrence and there are many resources available to help you manage this fear.
 
It can help to focus on things within your control, such as attending follow-up appointments, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and treatment regimen as well as staying informed about your condition and red-flag symptoms of recurrence. There are support groups available who can help you to mange these emotions, visit the emotional wellbeing page to find out more.

Finding ways to embrace the present through mindfulness, hobbies or spending time with family can also help shift your focus away from the ‘what-ifs’. Over time, many people find their fear begins to ease, allowing them to enjoy life and getting back to doing the things they love.

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Speaking to your partner about cancer

Even after your last appointment and you have achieved remission, you may continue to experience anxiety or fear around the risk of the cancer returning, lack of contact with the MDT may add to this. Take some time to heal emotionally and continue with your treatment to reduce the risk of your cancer returning.
 
When you’re ready to talk
Try to choose a moment when you both have time to focus solely on each other. It’s okay to let them know your fears and uncertainties and remember that it’s also natural for your partner to experience a range of emotions too.

Try not to hold anything back
Transparency in these situations is often the best option to avoid any surprises for your partner further down the line. You don’t need to have all the answers, but talking openly about your treatment plan and what to expect can make the journey feel more manageable for the both of you.

Changing circumstances
As you continue your journey you might find your circumstances change, whether that is your treatment, achieving remission, or your cancer recurring – through both the good and bad news – it’s important to keep the conversation going. After treatment, you might discover that there is an expectation that life will just go back to normal. But that isn’t always the case. Try to keep your partner as up to date as possible with your journey, and research together so they know how long treatment after cancer might take.
 
Even after your last appointment and you have achieved remission, you might still experience ongoing anxiety and fear due to having less time with your multidisciplinary team (MDT). Take some time to heal emotionally and continue with your treatment to reduce the risk of your cancer returning.
 
There are support groups and counselling if you find you are struggling with the anxiety of cancer returning.

If you need help discussing breast cancer with your partner,

Download the Discussion Guide

There are online counselling resources available which you can use to help maintain or improve your relationship whilst living with breast cancer. Try the following counselling services or ask your cancer care team if they can put you in touch with any face-to-face couple’s counsellors:
 

bacp counselling changes lives

www.bacp.co.uk

breast cancer now The research & care charity

www.breastcancernow.org

future dreams logo

www.futuredreams.org.uk

maggies logo

www.maggies.org

mind

www.mind.org.uk

relate logo

www.relate.org.uk

References:

  1. Pan H, Gray R, Braybrooke J, et al. EBCTCG.N Engl J Med. 2017; 377(19):1836–1846.
  2. The Impact of Breast Cancer on Mental Health - Novartis UK [Accessed: July 2025]
  3. Breast cancer recurrence. Available at: https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/breast-cancer-recurrence [Accessed: July 2025]

UK | July 2025 | FA-11300398-2

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Keep Ahead has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited. It has been created in collaboration with primary breast cancer patients whose knowledge and insights have informed the content and direction for the campaign.

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Reporting side-effects


If you get side effects with any medication you are taking, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the information leaflet that comes in the pack. You can report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of your medication.

© 2025 Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd - UK | May 2025 | FA-11340321-1. This site is intended for a UK early breast cancer patients and general public.

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