More women than ever survive breast cancer according to Texas Oncology.
On average, 30% of those patients will see their disease again.
This is called metastatic breast cancer or stage four breast cancer.
Oncologists say they are working on medicines that could help the patient live a good quality life as long as possible.
For Waco resident Patty Leftwich, the breast cancer returned 10 years later. Patty now takes small doses of prescribed drugs to manage the cancer.
Oncologists say the drug doses usually have to be upgraded after three years because the cancer becomes immune to it.
The hope is to eventually provide a medicine that can last longer than that.
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