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continued:

When cancer returns: How to cope with cancer recurrence

How are cancer recurrences diagnosed?

Cancer recurrences are diagnosed just like any other cancer. Your doctor might suspect a cancer recurrence based on certain tests, or you might suspect a recurrence based on your signs and symptoms.

After your last round of treatment, your doctor probably gave you a schedule of follow-up exams to check for cancer recurrences. You were probably told what signs and symptoms to be alert for that might signal a recurrence.

Watching for a cancer recurrence is often very different from screening for the original cancer. And the goals of the two are different. For most forms of cancer, a local recurrence may still be curable, so early detection of a local recurrence is very important. For most cancers, a recurrence at a site distant from where the cancer first began means the chance of cure is not good.

All cancers are different, so it's important to talk with your doctor about what type of cancer you have and what can be done if it recurs at a distant site. This can guide what tests you undergo during routine checkups after your initial treatment.

Can cancer recurrences be treated?

Many gains have been made in the treatment of cancer. In many cases, local and regional recurrences can be cured. Even when a cure isn't possible, treatment may shrink your cancer to slow the cancer's growth. This can relieve pain and other symptoms, and it may help you live longer.

Which treatment you choose, if any, will be based on many of the same factors you considered when deciding on your treatment the first time. Consider what you hope to accomplish and what side effects you're willing to endure. Your doctor will also take into account what types of treatment you had previously and how your body responded to those treatments.

You might also consider joining a clinical trial, where you may have access to the latest treatments or experimental medications. Talk to your doctor about clinical trials that are available to you.

How to cope with a cancer recurrence

A cancer recurrence brings back many of the same emotions you felt when you were first diagnosed with cancer. Just because you've dealt with these feelings before doesn't mean they're any easier to deal with this time. Common emotions include:

  • Distress. When you ended treatment for your initial cancer, you slowly started to move on with your life, thinking the cancer was gone. In the weeks, months or years that passed, cancer became less and less a part of your daily life. The shock of having cancer come back after you assumed it was gone can cause distress — sometimes more so than your first diagnosis did.
  • Self-doubt. You may doubt the wisdom of your past treatment decisions or the lifestyle choices you made since your last cancer experience. Try not to look backward. Instead, focus on your current situation and what you need to do now to move forward.
  • Anger. It's very common and reasonable to be angry that your cancer has returned. You might even be angry with your doctor for not stopping your cancer the first time. Or you might wonder why you put up with the side effects of your original treatment, just to have the cancer recur anyway. But you and your doctor made treatment choices based on the information available at that time. Seeking a second opinion may help you to better understand your choices.
  • Fatigue. It's normal to feel that you can't deal with cancer again. Whether it's the side effects of treatment you're dreading or having to tell your friends and family that you have cancer, you've done it before. Take heart in the fact that you were able to do it the first time, even though you might have doubted yourself back then.

All of these feelings are normal, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything about them. Start by thinking back to your first cancer experience. The same coping mechanisms you used then are likely to work now. Whether it was a best friend, a family member or a support group you turned to, you know that that person or group provides good emotional support.

You have other advantages this time around. Rely on these to help you cope. For example:

  • You know more now. Knowing more about cancer and your treatment options can help reduce your anxiety. Think about how much you knew about cancer at your first diagnosis. Compare this to what you know now, such as what treatment involves and what side effects to expect.
  • You've built relationships. You've worked closely with your doctor, and you know your way around the hospital or clinic. This can make you feel more comfortable.
  • You've done this before. Based on your first experience with cancer, you know what's best for you during this time. Whether you needed some time alone or preferred having someone nearby, you can draw on your experience to plan ahead.

Use these experiences to your advantage. They can help you feel more in control when making decisions about your treatment. And don't be afraid to express your feelings to your doctor. The conversation that results can give you a better understanding of your situation, and it can help you make treatment decisions.

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References
  1. When cancer returns. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/When-Cancer-Returns/allpages. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  2. Dealing with cancer recurrences. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Treating+Cancer/Dealing+With+Cancer+Recurrence. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  3. When your cancer comes back: Cancer recurrence. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002947-pdf.pdf. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  4. Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 11, 2010.
CA00050 Feb. 19, 2011

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