This may also be a good time to consider joining an in-person support group or online community. Think more clearly about your cancer experience Manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects If this lasts a long time or affects your daily activities, ask your health care team about counseling. It is normal to be upset when you learn your cancer has come back. Support, such as family and friends, support groups, and health care team members trained to support youĮxperience managing stress with exercise, meditation, spending time with friends, and other activities Knowledge of cancer treatments and side effects, including ways to manage side effects Relationships with doctors, nurses, and other health care team membersĪn understanding of health care, health insurance, and some medical terms Knowledge about cancer, which helps lessen fear and anxiety about the unknown But many people find they are better prepared because they have been through treatment before. You might be worried about coping with another round of tests and treatments. You used the information that was available to you. However, it is important to remember that you and your health care team made the best decisions you could at the time. You may also doubt your original treatment choice or other decisions. You may even find this diagnosis more upsetting than the first cancer diagnosis. Shock, disbelief, anger, and fear are all common emotions. If your cancer returns, you may have many different feelings. Talk with your health care team about your symptoms, including any new or different symptoms. This is called palliative care or supportive care. How each treatment could affect your quality of lifeĭuring treatment, relieving symptoms and side effects is important. The goals of each treatment, and the benefits you expect from it When you choose a treatment option, you may want to consider: Your doctor may also suggest a clinical trial. Side effects you had with the original treatment The original treatment and how well it worked The type of cancer, where it came back, and how much there is Your doctor will consider the following factors: This is similar to planning your original cancer treatment. If testing shows that your cancer has come back, your doctor will talk with you about your treatment options. These may include laboratory tests such as blood and urine tests, imaging scans, or a biopsy. If your doctor suspects the cancer is coming back, you will likely need other diagnostic tests to learn more. Your doctor may tell you to watch for specific signs or symptoms of recurrence. Often, a careful examination and conversation will be the focus of follow-up care. The goal of follow-up care is to make sure you are healthy and to watch for a recurrence.ĭepending on the type of cancer you had, you may need blood tests or imaging scans. This plan includes a schedule for visits to the doctor, physical examinations, and possibly other tests. How is a cancer recurrence diagnosed?Īfter finishing their original cancer treatment, patients often receive a follow-up care plan, also called a survivorship care plan. It is not called liver cancer, even though it it has spread to the liver, because it did not start there. For example, if breast cancer recurs in the liver, it is called metastatic breast cancer. Cancer that comes back is named for the place where it started. Doctors call this a "pattern of recurrence." Is it the same cancer if it is somewhere else? Some types of cancers tend to come back in specific places. In another part of the body, called a distant recurrence Near the area of the original cancer was located, called a regional recurrence In the same part of the body as the original cancer, called a local recurrence Where a cancer comes back depends on the type of cancer. Where do cancers come back, if they recur? Over time, they can multiply and grow enough to cause symptoms or be found by testing. These cells are too small to find with current tests. Why do some cancers come back?Ĭancers come back when small numbers of cancer cells can remain in the body after treatment. This information can help you feel more prepared if the cancer does return. Your doctor can tell you more about your personal risk of having a recurrence and coping with the fear of another cancer diagnosis. The chance of a cancer coming back depends on the type and stage of cancer you had. It is not possible to know for sure if cancer will come back after your treatment ends. It can happen weeks, months, or even years after the original cancer was treated. Sometimes after cancer treatment, cancer comes back or returns.
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