When cancer comes back
An oncology researcher explains who's at higher risk for cancer recurrence and what you can do to make it less likely
May 13, 2025
After completing cancer treatment, patients may experience both feelings of joy and relief as well as the fear of cancer returning.
“The thought of cancer coming back can bring on a lot of emotions, but not all recurrences are the same and not all will require active treatment,” said Dr. Marjorie Green, Merck’s senior vice president and head of oncology global clinical development. “It’s important to be aware of the possibility and talk with your doctor to understand your risk.”
What is cancer recurrence?
Cancer recurrence is the return of a previously diagnosed cancer after a period during which it was undetectable. Recurrence can happen weeks, months or even years after the initial diagnosis and treatment. The cancer might come back in the same place it first started, or it might come back somewhere else in the body. The different types of recurrences are:
- Local: Cancer returns at the same place it first started.
- Regional: Cancer is detected in lymph nodes near the place it first started.
- Distant: Cancer comes back in another part of the body.
Who’s at risk for cancer recurrence?
While any cancer can come back, certain types are more likely to return, for example, cancers of the bladder and pancreas. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is hormone-receptor negative, is more likely to recur than hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. Cancers caused by tobacco use also have a higher risk of recurrence.
Beyond cancer type, certain other factors can also influence the likelihood of recurrence, including stage at diagnosis (advanced or metastatic stages may have a higher chance of returning) and tumor growth rate.
Reducing the risk of recurrence
“Because patients who’ve been treated for cancer face a risk of recurrence, staying informed and proactive is essential.”
- Dr. Marjorie Green
In addition to eating right and exercising, it’s also important to stay on top of follow-up visits with your health care team. A helpful question to ask during appointments may be: Could cancer spread or come back after surgery?
“Surgery is not always the end of cancer treatment because even if all visible cancer is removed, there still may be some tumor cells remaining in the body that are too few to be detectable on screening or diagnostic tests,” Green said.
Screenings to detect new cancers are important for survivors who might be at higher risk of developing another cancer because of their treatments or from increasing age. Screenings also may help catch potential recurrences at an earlier, more treatable stage.
Learn more about the importance of diagnosing cancer early.
