Second recurrence of breast cancer 36 years after initial surgery and 18 years after the first recurrence – an extremely rare case

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a one of the most common causes of cancer death in the world. Late recurrence is a notable characteristic of this disease. CASE: We experienced an extremely rare case of breast cancer that developed a second recurrence 36 years after the initial surgery and 18 years after the first recurrence, manifesting as bilateral pleural effusion and multiple bone metastases. CONCLUSION: This report highlights that it is important for both patients and doctors to be aware that such patients exist.