Early Breast Cancer Survivors Have Little Added Risk Of A Second Cancer, Study Says

Key Takeaways

Women who survive an early breast cancer have a relatively low risk of a second cancer

Their risk of another cancer is only 2% to 3% greater than the general population

This info can help women plan for their futures

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Women who survive an early breast cancer can breathe easy, a recent study says.

Their risk of developing a second cancer is low, about 2% to 3% greater than that of women in the general population, researchers reported in The BMJ .

“Many breast cancer survivors believe their risks of a second cancer are much higher than those we estimated,” wrote the research team co-led by Dr. David Dodwell , a senior breast oncologist at the University of Oxford in the U.K. “The information in our study can reassure them