The words every cancer patient longs to hear are, “Your cancer is in remission.” But what happens if it comes back? For many, a cancer recurrence can create feelings of anger, shock, sadness and/or fear. It’s important to know that if cancer comes back – either in the same area or in a new one – everyone deals with the news differently. Your feelings are valid. The experts at UMMS can help you navigate this difficult time with competence and care.
What is cancer recurrence?
Cancer recurrence is when a new cancer is found after your original cancer was treated and couldn’t be detected for a certain amount of time.
There are three types of recurrent cancer:
- Local recurrence – the new cancer is in the same place as the previous cancer or close to it
- Regional recurrence – the tumor has grown into the lymph nodes or tissues near the previous cancer
- Distant recurrence – the cancer has spread to organs or tissues far from the previous cancer
A recurrence from primary cancer doesn’t mean your treatment wasn’t successful. There was an interval when you were “disease-free.”
Sometimes, however, a small number of cancer cells survive treatment but were too small to see in follow-up tests. These eventually grow into tumors or cancer that can be detected.
If a new type of cancer occurs in someone with a history of cancer, it is called second primary cancer, which is different from recurrent cancer. However, your feelings may be the same, and the suggestions below may help.
Treatment options for cancer recurrence
A recurrence does not mean that your initial treatment failed or was ineffective; the good news is that you were cancer-free once, and you may be again with proper treatment.
Recurrences can be detected in several ways, but you will likely go through many of the same tests as your initial diagnosis, such as imaging and lab tests. These will help your oncologist determine where the recurrence is, how big it is, and how far it has spread.
Treatment options vary based on the type and location of the recurrence but are similar to therapies given during your initial cancer treatment and may include:
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Proton therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Bone marrow or stem cell transplant
Your provider will work with you to determine the best course of action.
IMPORTANT: It’s not your fault
Many patients may feel that they could have done more to prevent their cancer from returning, but the fact is that much is still unknown about the way different cancers grow and develop in the body. Even if you do everything right, cancer may still return.
Coping with cancer recurrence
Find a support system
As with an initial cancer diagnosis, it is essential to surround yourself with people who love and care about you and can help you when you’re feeling low. In fact, it may be even more important with a cancer recurrence due to the strong feelings you may have, which could include:
- Anger
- Anxiety/depression
- Fear of what’s to come
- Hopelessness
- Placing blame
Everyone deals with a cancer recurrence differently; this is not an exhaustive list for all you may feel. Having friends and family available, or joining a support group, can help you work through these emotions.
Talk to your providers and loved ones
Contrary to popular belief, health care providers DO want you to ask questions. Talk to them about your pain or other symptoms you may feel. Tell them what you expect for pain control and symptom relief.
Decide how involved you want to be in your care and ensure your health care team and family members know. Ask them to follow through with your wishes.
As soon as possible, talk with family members about how much they want to know – and how much you are comfortable telling them. Let your doctors and nurses know as well. Having this plan in place will help avoid conflicts among those you love.
Do something fun
People with cancer can often continue their regular activities, although they may be more difficult. No matter what you do, reserve some energy for the things that are really important to you. Space out activities rather than try to do everything all in one day. And space out what you do in a day to avoid exhaustion.
Try activities that take less of a toll on your body, such as:
- Taking an art class
- Learning photography
- Building small projects, like birdhouses or puzzles
- Following the stock market
- Journaling
- Reading
- People-watching at the mall
- Going to concerts or movies
- Taking an online class
- Going to worship services
There are many other things to do. And these are even better if you do them with other people.
Set both short-term and long-term goals. Plan out your days, and put things on the calendar to look forward to—lunch with a friend, playdates with your grandkids or a trip to the beach, for example.
Take time to reflect – on the past, present and future. Writing out your feelings and discovering new insights can help you on your journey back to health.
Get more tips from the National Cancer Institute.
Additional resources
- A Guide to Self-Care for Caregivers
- Caring for Your Mental Health When You Have Cancer
- Guided Meditation: A Daily Exercise to Reduce the Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Your Life
- Artful Meditation: A Handful of Gratitude
- Coming Back from Chemo Brain
UMMS and cancer recurrence
The cancer experts at UMMS work as part of a multidisciplinary team that focuses on specific cancers to get you the most effective treatment plan possible. If you or a loved one is experiencing a cancer recurrence, reach out to us today to learn how we can help you once again hear the words “cancer-free.”
