Breakthrough for breast cancer survivors after discovery of which patients most likely to have recurring disease

Doctors now say they are able to identify which breast cancer survivors are most likely to have their cancer come back.

The key lies in dormant cancer cells, known as “sleeper cells.” The cells are scattered throughout the body and can expand, leading to returning breast cancer. They don’t normally show up on scans, but doctors are able to find them in patients’ bone marrow.