Cancer Recurrence: Why and How?

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thien Quang - Internal Oncologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has more than 15 years of experience in the field of examination and diagnosis of oncological diseases and treatment modalities of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and palliative care.

Many cases of cancer detected early have been successfully treated, but the most bewildering problem is that the cancer can come back if the patient does not know how to prevent it.

Recurrence cancer is a form of primary cancer, after effective treatment, those organs and parts re-grow.

Cancer comes back because the initial treatment cannot remove all of the cancer cells, and the cells that are left in the body develop into one or more other tumors. When and where the cancer recurs depends on the type of cancer. In general, cancer can recur in the following ways:
In the same part of the body as the primary cancer, called local recurrence Near the site of the primary cancer, called local recurrence another part of the body, called distant metastatic recurrence Recurrent cancer is named for where the primary cancer started, even if it recurs in another part of the body. For example, if breast cancer recurs far in the liver, it is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer. Doctors call it metastatic breast cancer. Metastasis means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.

There are many different causes of cancer recurrence, but the main cause is due to incomplete treatment of the primary cancer. Some other causes include:
Surgical removal of the tumor is not clean Using chemotherapy, radiation therapy is not thorough The effect of some other pathogens: Women's body has not fully recovered after The treatment got pregnant right away, reducing the body's immunity and causing the remaining cells to develop into cancer.

After treating the primary cancer, you will receive a follow-up care plan. This plan includes a schedule of doctor visits, a careful physical examination, and possibly other tests. These visits and tests are important to make sure you are healthy and to monitor whether the cancer comes back.
Depending on the type of cancer, you may need blood tests or imaging scans to make a diagnosis. During diagnosis, specific signs or symptoms of recurrence should be carefully monitored.
If cancer recurrence is suspected, other diagnostic tests will be needed to make an accurate conclusion, including laboratory tests, imaging studies, or a biopsy.

If tests confirm that the cancer has returned, doctors will recommend appropriate treatment options. Your doctor will consider the following factors before making a treatment choice:
The type of cancer, where it has come back in the body, and their size Your overall health Type of cancer treatment the initial letter and how effective was the treatment? Side effects encountered with initial treatment? How long has it been since treatment ended? Clinical trials are also a good option. When making a decision to choose one of the treatments, the patient needs to consider the following:
The goals and expected benefits of each treatment The risks and side effects possible How might your treatments affect your quality of life? During treatment, patients should use palliative or supportive care therapies, which help reduce symptoms and side effects of cancer treatments. When you appear any unusual symptoms or signs of the body, you need to immediately report to your doctor for timely control.

The feeling of being diagnosed with a recurring cancer won't be as different as when you first heard you had cancer. Those common emotions include shock, anxiety, disbelief, fear, grief, anger, and loss of control. All of these feelings are normal reactions to this difficult experience.
To face the recurrence of cancer and be able to overcome the disease, the patient should be well prepared for the following:
Cultivate knowledge about cancer, help reduce some fears and anxieties related to cancer the unknown Prepare “a spirit of steel” under all circumstances Learn thoroughly about cancer treatments and their side effects, as well as ways to control the disease. Practice stress-relieving techniques like gentle exercise, meditation, yoga, or spending time with friends Seek palliative care to improve quality of life, cope with illness Build for a proper diet Control cancer symptoms and side effects of treatment Share your condition with family, friends and doctors for support.

Psychological Health Clinic - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital has the function of examining, consulting, and combining psychological therapies to treat cancer patients.
Therapy combines supportive conversations, learning to deal with problems, relaxation, increased imagination skills and healthy lifestyles, through training in community, increasing physical exercise, reducing stress and negative emotions that cancer patients face.
Psychotherapy is more and more widely used in the treatment of cancer patients and brings positive changes not only in psychological but also in physical health of patients, helping to improve cancer condition. recurrent mail.

Article referenced source: Cancer.net