The death of Australian superstar Olivia Newton-John has drawn attention to an often misunderstood stage of breast cancer — metastatic breast cancer.
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1990s and spent 25 years in remission. When the cancer returned in 2017, this time in her spine, she fostered greater public awareness of the disease’s stages as she began canceling tour dates.
While it is uncommon for cancer to return after more than two decades in remission, it’s possible, which is why it is important for women and anyone who has had cancer before to keep up with routine screenings, said Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.
