Cancer return can be nerve-wracking; you can often feel the excruciating emotions of having to deal with a cancer diagnosis again. Like your first diagnosis, you wonder what to do and how to manage cancer recurrence.
When cancer resurfaces weeks, months, or years after the initial treatment, it is called recurrence cancer. What it means is some cancer cells survived, but it is not the same as a second primary cancer. Hence, don’t think of uncertainties because there are key ways to deal with the return of cancer.
Recurrence Cancer: What It Means
A cancer recurrence is the return of cancer to the exact part or another part of the body. Even after doctors’ efforts to get rid of cancer, some cells can still find their way to survive. Whatever the case, the fact that it spreads to another part of the body does not mean it is a different type of cancer. For example, Prostate cancer may recur in the prostate gland region even after removing the gland or other body parts. In any situation, it’s a return of prostate cancer. It might be referred to as recurrent prostate cancer.
However, don’t fret there are proven treatments for recurrent cancer. Also, you can resolve to shrink cancer to slow the growth. It can relieve pain and other symptoms. With all of these, you’ll need to consider your treatment goals, what you choose to accomplish, and the adverse effects of the treatment.
Understanding the different types of recurrent cancer can guide your discussion with your doctor, oncologist, and health care team.
Types Of Recurrence Cancer
Here are the types of recurrence cancer that you need to know about:
- Local recurrence: The return of cancer to the same place it was found, meaning it doesn’t spread to the bone or other parts of the body.
- Regional recurrence: The lymph nodes and tissue close to the site of your initial cancer experience a regional recurrence.
- Distant Recurrence: The spread of cancer to other parts of the body. It is usually away from where it was first located, such as the bone, brain, and lymph. Also known as metastatic cancer.
It is best to discuss with your health care team; they’ll provide the best information about the type of recurrence, how to cope, and the available treatment, such as stereotactic radiotherapy.
Best Ways to Deal With Cancer Recurrence
These are the proven methods you can use to cope with cancer recurrence.
- Accept the situation: it’s not difficult to accept that your cancer resurfacing isn’t a dream, but accepting the reality is a way forward. It helps you make the right choices to combat cancer without fear.
- Do what is best for you: Since only you can decide what is best for you, it’s good to consider your treatment goals. Most importantly, please speak to your cancer team, and let them know your treatment goals.
- Take care of your symptoms: Cancer recurrence symptoms might influence your quality of life. It’s crucial you cooperate with your health care team to manage your symptoms, which may include pain, exhaustion, problems sleeping, and so on. Improving your physical symptoms may boost your mood and general well-being.
- Get further assistance if you can obtain it. If you’re dealing with a cancer recurrence, you should go to a counselor or therapist who deals with cancer patients.
Sometimes after treating the first cancer diagnosis, it may resurface, while it maybe wants to sap you of your joy. It’s best you visit the doctor and talk to your cancer care team to help know the type of cancer, help you with the cure, and help you deal with the problem without losing your sleep. Better still, get stereotactic radiotherapy.
