What if cancer comes back?

Carcinoma - recurrence; Squamous cell - recurrence; Adenocarcinoma - recurrence; Lymphoma - recurrence; Tumor - recurrence; Leukemia - recurrence; Cancer - recurrence

One of the most common fears for people who have had cancer is that it may return after initial treatment. When cancer comes back, it is called a recurrence. Cancer can recur in the same spot or in a whole different area of your body. No one likes to think about having cancer again, but it is important to learn about recurrence so you can move on with your life despite the uncertainty.

Stages of cancer

The staging of a carcinoma has to do with the size of the tumor, and the degree to which it has penetrated. When the tumor is small and has not penetrated the mucosal layer, it is said to be stage I cancer. Stage II tumors are into the muscle wall, and stage III involves nearby lymph nodes. The rare stage IV cancer has spread (metastasized) to remote organs.

Why Cancer Comes Back

Understanding Your Risk

What You Can Do

What if Your Cancer Does Come Back?